Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for their constructive contributions and welcome the general expression of support voiced for many objectives of the proposed legislation. Setting up the statutory Low Pay Commission is, as Senator White said, designed to take much of the politics out of the setting of the minimum wage. I was very pleased with the high calibre of people appointed to the commission on an interim basis. The commission was launched on 26 February and currently operates on an interim, non-statutory basis. The enactment of the Bill will underpin its first recommendation of a new minimum wage by the middle of July.

I wish to address the concerns of Senator Mooney and others. We decided, quite correctly, to engage the services of the Public Appointments Service to hold an open and transparent competition for members of the commission. We can say with great certainty that the members who have been selected and have gone through that process have a lot of experience-----