Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will carry out an impact assessment on the proposals of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in relation to the reform of the Joint Labour Committees system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15462/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister said that when the assessment is carried out there will be a decision made by the Government as a whole. Based on what some of her party colleagues say about these proposals, it is evident there is divergence between them and the proposals that have come from the Minister, Deputy Bruton. As I said last week I take at face value the assessment to be carried out by her officials. When is that expected to be complete? Will it be made public and will this House have the opportunity to respond to that exercise in its own right? When is the Government to set about making a decision on the matter when all members of Cabinet have carried out their own research? In that regard the Minister for Social Protection is no different from any other Minister. When will the assessment be complete? Will it be made public and available to us? When does the Government expect to make a "whole of Government" decision as it has been described?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The need for reform of the joint labour committee system was clearly signalled in the programme for Government. Mr. Kevin Duffy of the Labour Court and Mr. Walsh have produced a very detailed report setting out a reform mechanism. The relevant stakeholders, the employers and trade unions, are now participating in a consultation process on the report initiated by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The outcome of the consultation process will be brought to Government and any changes 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.

In the meantime 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 everyone concerned.

The social inclusion division which was in the Ministry formerly known as "Craggy" has returned to my Department since 1 May. That division has an important Government role in promoting the implementation of poverty impact assessment as a key tool in promoting good practice and innovation in policy implementation.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's answer does not answer the specific question I asked. I accept the Minister is entitled to investigate any effect such measures would have on those receiving entitlements. Once what the Minister has requested is complete, will she make it public before the Government makes the decision? It is appropriate that those of us on this side of the House who have a duty in this area are aware of any such impact especially if that has been adjudicated on by her officials. If that is substantial we need to know it before a decision is taken.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The consultation process has not been completed yet. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to complete a poverty impact assessment on the proposals because we do not yet have those proposals. When we get those proposals the social inclusion division of my Department will carry out such an assessment. I do no have a date for the Deputy and I must wait and see what proposals are forthcoming. I believe the Duffy and Walsh report contains a number of extremely sensible proposals, many of which are in the course of implementation in different employments because there has been considerable employer-union interaction in certain key areas in recent time. I want to wait until I get the proposals before giving a time-based answer as the Deputy has requested.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister make it public?