Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have spoken previously about how the pandemic has caused many of us to reconsider and re-evaluate what an essential worker is. We now understand it is a much broader group of workers than people would have originally described, many of whom are on low pay and in the private sector.

The Government has been clear that a legacy of the pandemic should be better pay, terms and conditions for everyone, but particularly those currently on low pay. We are committed, therefore, to honouring the programme for Government commitment to progressing a living wage over the lifetime of this Government. In doing so, we need also to recognise that many businesses, especially small businesses, have been badly affected by the pandemic and are struggling to pay existing wages. We need to make sure we proceed in a way that does not cause jobs to be lost in terms of numbers of people employed or that would see employees having their hours cut, as to do so would be counterproductive.

In 2021, I asked the Low Pay Commission to examine the programme for Government commitment to progress a living wage over the lifetime of the Government and to make recommendations to me on how best we can achieve this commitment. Following this request, the Low Pay Commission commissioned a team of researchers in the National University of Ireland, NUI, Maynooth, to conduct research on the living wage. This research was to consider the policy, social and economic implications of a move to a living wage and the process by which Ireland could achieve it. The research will examine international evidence on living wages, examining different calculation methods, examining the policy implications and outlining options for moving to a living wage in Ireland.

I understand that in January of this year, the Low Pay Commission received the living wage supporting research report from the researchers at NUI Maynooth. The Low Pay Commission is currently evaluating this research. The commission is meeting with experts and stakeholders in the area, such as Eurofound, the UK Low Pay Commission, business and employer representatives and representatives of the living wage technical group.

I have not yet received a report from the Low Pay Commission, but I expect to receive it, perhaps in the next month. Once I have received it, I will give it consideration and the Government will respond to the recommendations and set out a policy approach.

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