Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for this proposed amendment, and I assure her that I still am a member of a trade union and will continue to be. I am delighted to see my own union accepting the results of the public pay talks. Regarding this issue, as the Deputy has already alluded to, my predecessor had instructed officials to investigate this issue following debate on Committee Stage. Officials have noted that the intention of the Deputy’s amendment is already provided for in the regulation-making powers of this Bill. Therefore, the amendment would duplicate the role of the regulation-making powers already available in section 19(2)(g). The Minister already has the power to carry out this action through regulations. I note that a similar regulation-making provision is proposed for the seasonal employment permit documentation to include similar details. I am happy to engage with the Deputy and other relevant parties to discuss operationalising this particular regulation as part of the commencement regulations associated with this Bill. We can do this in regulation. I commit to doing this in regulation, but as this matter is not a matter for primary legislation, I do not intend to accept this amendment.

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