Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If we get to that point, and this matter is subject to a Government decision yet to be taken, because I must consider the report in the round and then bring a recommendation to Government, which I will do, and if changes are to be implemented, then it will be a matter for the individual sectors to determine how those changes are to be implemented. All sectors have been aware since late 2020 that this process of setting up an independent body to examine the Haddington Road agreement hours was being embarked upon. As I said, having recently received a cover letter and a summary of the report's conclusions and recommendations, I wrote to the relevant Ministers and the different Departments to alert them to these recommendations coming my way. That is not to give an indication of what the decision in this regard will be but it is prudent to ensure that people are aware of what recommendations will be coming to me for consideration. The report will recommend that these changes commence from 1 July, which is not terribly far away. The independent body estimates the cost of implementing the recommendations will be €180 million in 2022.

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