Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of ensuring that all workers in the public and civil service are paid a living wage. [28845/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Currently there is no official living wage in Ireland. It is important that Ireland’s statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not confused. The Living Wage has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement.

The National Minimum Wage is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis. The Low Pay Commission annually assesses the appropriate level of the National Minimum Wage.

In 2021, I asked the Low Pay Commission to examine the programme for Government commitment to progress a living wage over the lifetime of the Government and to make recommendations to me on how best we can achieve this commitment.

To assist its work, the Low Pay Commission commissioned a team of researchers in Maynooth University to conduct research on the living wage. This research was to consider the policy, social and economic implications of a move to a living wage and the process by which Ireland could achieve it.

The Low Pay Commission submitted its Living Wage Report to me on 31 March 2022, along with the accompanying research report from Maynooth University. I plan to publish the LPC report and recommendations today and will initiate a public consultation. Following the public consultation, a specific proposal will be brought to Government in the autumn on progressing to a statutory living wage. The implications for the public sector pay bill will be addressed in the context of that specific proposal.

While the living wage initiative is being considered, the Government will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission with regard to any future changes in the minimum wage. The Low Pay Commission is required to submit its annual recommendation on the National Minimum Wage to me on or before the third Tuesday in July.