Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the spirit in which the proposed amendment has been tabled.It provides for a nine-member commission, comprising an independent chair and three members who have a deep understanding of the interests of low-paid workers. It will also comprise three members, as Senator Quinn outlined, who have a deep understanding of the interests of employers, particularly small to medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, and those operating in the traditional low-pay sector, and who possess a good knowledge and understanding of the particular issues faced by businesses. It will also comprise two members who will have relevant knowledge or expertise in labour market economics, statistics or employment law.

All the commission members were appointed by me on an interim basis in February last to allow them commence their work and make recommendations to me on the rate of the national minimum wage by mid-July. My expressed intention was that members would then be appointed on a statutory basis once the necessary legislation was enacted. In this context, it was decided by the Government, quite correctly, to engage the services of the Public Appointments Service to hold an open and transparent competition for members of the commission. The employer and worker representatives, as well as the academic members, were all selected on that basis and on the basis of the criteria set out in the Bill on which I reflected earlier. Accordingly, it would be unwise to introduce new eligibility criteria at this point.

I am satisfied those members representing employers' interests selected through the public process have much experience representing the business community and the SME sector and owners. The provisions on the qualifications of the employer representatives of the commission are already comprehensive enough to ensure the interests of business, particularly SMEs and traditional low-pay sectors of the economy, will be well articulated in the commission’s deliberations. Accordingly, I cannot accept amendment No. 24.

On amendment No. 25, I am satisfied the expertise requirements for the academic experts will ensure the commission will have the necessary and relevant academic supports and expertise to assist it in undertaking this work. Accordingly, I cannot accept this amendment either.

On amendment No. 26, the Bill provides that worker representatives on the commission will have an understanding of the interests of low-paid workers, as well as good knowledge and experience of working on behalf of workers’ interests and representing workers, particularly low-paid workers, with a proven track record in advocacy. We can say with some certainty that the members selected by the Public Appointments Service such as Patricia King, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Gerry Light, assistant general secretary, Mandate, and Edel McGinley, director, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland-----