Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the labour inspectorate of his Department to ensure payment of the national minimum wage; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by labour inspectors that they do not have adequate resources to police the national minimum wage; the steps he is taking to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18010/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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In 2004, labour inspectors of my Department undertook 462 inspections under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000. So far this year, the inspectorate has undertaken 168 inspections under the legislation. Inspectors operate on the basis of achieving compliance. Where an inspection occurs leading to a detection of infringements, the employer is required to rectify the infringements detected. Failure to do so to the satisfaction of the labour inspectorate within a specified period results in the initiation of legal proceedings. The Deputy may be aware that rights commissioners of the Labour Relations Commission — a body independent of my Department — also hear complaints concerning breaches of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000.

Arising from the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress agreed by all parties, in June 2004, the inspectorate was asked to draw up a discussion document for the social partnership process. It did so by identifying 39 key proposals, including proposals relating to staffing of the inspectorate. The purpose of the discussion document is primarily to stimulate debate and signal that fundamental changes in approach should be considered. Some views have been received from the social partners while others are awaited.

On 12 April 2005, the Minister announced that he is appointing additional labour inspectors who will place a specific emphasis on sectors where migrant workers are concentrated. The group will consist of a team leader and ten labour inspectors. The additional inspectors will strengthen the labour inspectorate's capacity to ensure that workers in these sectors receive their entitlements under employment rights legislation. This expansion of the inspectorate will bring the authorised number of labour inspectors to 31.