Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

We have advice from many sources that if the amendment is accepted, it is likely it would render unenforceable existing contractual terms that provide for rates of pay to be determined by reference to the prevailing national minimum wage. There is a range of legislation available to an organisation that is subject to more criticism than praise in this House. I refer to NERA, the National Employment Rights Authority. This is not an obsolete or remote organisation, as one Deputy commented last night. It is very active on the ground protecting employee rights. With regard to workers' contracts referred to by Deputies, staff of the Rights Commissioner Service are experienced and available to handle issues where workers are not getting their rights, which include a written contract regardless of who they work for or how they work. Under the Croke Park agreement, we are making arrangements for greater supports for the employer support organisations such as the Rights Commissioner Service and the Labour Relations Commission so they can be better placed to respond to the increasing volume of cases, particularly from this sector over the past year. There has been a far greater increase in the volume of complaints to the Rights Commissioner Service from this area.

Deputy Burton referred to section 13, which concerns a linked amendment, and the wording of the review and the requirement to examine the cost of living instead of inflation. There is no policy change here.

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