Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the minimum wage and the way it applies to persons under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40378/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The current national minimum wage is €7.65 per hour.

In the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, ICTU and IBEC agreed to make a joint recommendation to Government on a new minimum wage rate to be effective from 1 January, 2007. As no agreement was reached between ICTU and IBEC, ICTU has referred the matter to the Labour Court asking that the Court examine the national minimum wage and make a recommendation on the matter. The recommendation from the Labour Court is currently awaited.

Sub-minimum rates of the National Minimum Wage apply where an employee is:

Under age 18; or

In the first two years after the date of first employment over age 18; or

Undergoing a prescribed course of study or training.

In accordance with Section 14(b) of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, employees under the age of 18 are entitled to 70% of the national minimum wage. This percentage was recommended by the National Minimum Wage Commission to strike a balance between ensuring that young employees are not exploited and ensuring that the rate of pay does not encourage students to leave full-time education.