Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The need for reform of the joint labour committee system was clearly signalled in the programme for Government. A very detailed report, the independent review of employment regulation orders and registered employment agreement wage-setting mechanisms, setting out a reform mechanism was finalised in April of this year and circulated to members of the Government in the usual way.

The relevant stakeholders will now participate in a consultation process on the report and the Government does not have a predetermined outcome to this process. The outcome of the consultation process will be brought to Government and any proposals in this area will be decided collectively by the Government. In that context, the Government will consider the impact of the reform proposals on workers with a view to achieving balanced reform which produces good outcomes for employment and social protection.

Poverty impact assessment is the process by which Departments, local authorities and State agencies assess policies and programmes at design, implementation and review stages for the likely impact they will have or have had on poverty and on inequalities which are likely to lead to poverty, with a view to poverty reduction.

I have asked my officials to examine the broader impact of the report on low-paid workers and the social protection system generally and how reduced pay levels could possibly lead to an increased reliance on the social welfare system. This assessment will assist the Government's deliberations on the proposed reforms with a view to achieving balanced reform for all those affected.

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