Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

It made one statement about employment, namely, that reducing the JLC rates to the national minimum wage rates would not have a substantial impact on employment. The Government has not made any proposal to reduce the JLC rates to the national minimum wage. The report used analysis that examines minimum wage systems across a range of countries in normal circumstances. It did not consider specific reforms in an inflexible system which are targeted at trying to make it easier to create employment in an economy that has suffered a collapse in employment and to avail of opportunities, wherever they can be found, to create jobs. That is the context. Time and again, the report states we must address the way in which the current arrangements are undermining competitiveness in the economy. This is not some sort of conspiracy but a question of how we can make certain sectors sufficiently flexible to respond to opportunities.

The Government is not abandoning the joint labour committee system, as many people have advocated. On the contrary, we recognise that it provides important protection to workers but this protection must be balanced with the need to create employment opportunities.

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