Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action to be taken by her Department following the meeting between the Irish Hotels Federation and Minister of State Kelleher on the matter of joint labour committee pay rates outside Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44765/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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On 22nd October last I met with representatives of the Irish Hotels Federation where I heard at first hand of the difficulties being experienced by hotels with regard to wage costs and, in particular, the issue of premium payments for Sunday work. At that meeting I advised the Federation to make their concerns known through their representatives at the social partnership table and to pursue the issues actively through the established mechanism of the Hotels Joint Labour Committee, where the terms and conditions of employment for workers in the sector are established.

I welcome the recent agreement by the representative employer and trade union organisations in this sector to establish a Forum to contribute to the development of a sustainable industry providing high quality employment in the Hotel sector. The Forum consists of representatives of IBEC and the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), on behalf of employers in the industry and SIPTU. This Forum will have regard to a wide range of employment and industrial relations issues arising from the current challenges facing the hotels sector, with priority attention to be given to the current challenges as a result of the operation of the JLC system (with particular reference to premium payments in the sector).

I welcome the initiative of the Social Partners in this area and I hope that constructive dialogue will result in practical measures to help address the severe challenges facing those working in the hospitality sector.