Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In his response, the Minister outlined that the key challenge is that new employees can now be taken on by existing companies and others under the minimum wage. That gives such companies a huge competitive advantage over those companies that are part of the REA and have contractual obligations to it. As long as there is some sort of doubt over this, that competitive advantage will grow and there will be a loss of existing employment and existing terms and conditions. Is it planned to implement legislation before the summer recess or will this be allowed to drag on into the autumn and companies who are currently signed up to the REA will suffer loss of contracts and an inability to be competitive in applying for tenders because they are adhering to the REA and their contractual obligations? Has the Minister any emergency legislation on this issue under consideration?

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