Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

386. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 for all employees directly employed by his Department or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24162/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The remuneration of the staff of my Department is as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy.

It is very difficult to estimate the potential cost of introducing an hourly rate of €11.50 per hour for all employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This is largely dependent on the number of temporary clerical staff employed in the Passport Service during the peak season which can vary from year to year. A rough estimate of the cost per annum would be in the region of €500,000 to €750,000.

There are no State Agencies funded by my Department.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

387. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions his Department has had with suppliers or service contractors to his Department or to agencies of his Department to ensure that employees of such suppliers and contractors are paid the living wage of €11.50 per hour; the cost of implementing this wage for these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24177/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s public procurement activity involves the acquisition of services, supplies, goods and works in accordance with the Government’s procurement policies. There are no State Agencies reporting to my Department. Open public procurement procedures are used to engage external contractors to provide non-core services involving ICT, programme administration and general services.

The Department meets its statutory obligations relating to minimum pay by complying with the European Procurement Directives and the Government’s procurement rules by utilising the standardised set of Government public procurement documents.

The use of Government model templates of request for tenders for supplies, services and goods, which incorporate model template contracts, outline the legal and procedural obligations placed on both the Department and tenderers regarding employment protection.

When issuing tenders, the Department publishes provisions of the contract and request for tenders simultaneously. The contracts clearly outline the terms and conditions, specifications and special conditions relating to the operation of the contract in an open and transparent manner.

Compliance with standard employment protection provisions is confirmed by the tenderer in her/his acceptance of the terms and conditions of the tender competition on contract completion.

In view of the foregoing, there have not been any discussions with suppliers or service contractors to the Department regarding the possible payment of an hourly rate of €11.50 per hour to their employees.

The cost in implementing any such wage level for suppliers/service contractor employees would be a matter for the suppliers/contractors and we would not be in a position to quantify the cost of any such change.