Written answers

Thursday, 13 May 2004

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

National Minimum Wage

5:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is intended to review the level of the national minimum wage; her views on the call from IBEC that there should be no increase in the minimum wage for the second half of the Sustaining Progress deal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13860/04]

Photo of Frank FaheyFrank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The national minimum wage can only be increased following a recommendation contained in a national agreement or, where no national agreement is in place, any organisation which the Labour Court is satisfied is substantially representative of employees or employers can request the Labour Court to examine the national minimum hourly rate of pay, not earlier than 12 months after the Minister last declared a national minimum hourly rate of pay. The Labour Court can then make a recommendation to the Minister.

In the current national agreement, Sustaining Progress, the social partners recommended that the national minimum wage be increased to €7. I accepted this recommendation and signed an order which gave effect to this rate from 1 February 2004.

In the context of discussions with the social partners at national level it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the views of any of the social partners on this issue.

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