David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 17, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:

"(i) maintaining of fair and sustainable rates of remuneration appropriate to the sector in question;".

The proposed new section 41A sets out the mechanism for the review of an agreement. The list of matters to which the court shall have regard when it conducts a review does not include any reference to "fair and sustainable rates of remuneration". That is an incredible and serious omission, given that the whole joint labour committee system is supposed to be about ensuring people are paid fairly. The court should be obliged to take fair wages into consideration. The list of matters the court will have to consider, as set out in this legislation, extends from (a) to (i) but does not include a reference to the maintenance of "fair and sustainable rates of remuneration appropriate to the sector in question", which is what we are proposing for inclusion in amendment No. 11. Surely the meat of the joint labour committee system is ensuring that rates of pay and protections are included in agreements. We would see their omission as a serious matter.