Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of establishing a workers’ rights enhancements working group within his Department. [28849/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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It is difficult to estimate the likely cost of establishing any working group on workers' rights enhancements without additional information on the envisaged remit and membership of such a group. However, it should be noted that there are already a number of statutory and informal working groups in the employment rights policy space.

Established in 2015, the Low Pay Commission makes annual recommendations to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment designed to set a minimum wage that is fair and sustainable. As well as fulfilling its usual role in making recommendations to Government on the minimum wage, the Commission is undertaking the important work of developing a Living Wage for Ireland.

Work is also well underway to establish an independent Employment Law Review Group, comprising expert stakeholders, which will help shape the formulation of policy and legislation to ensure that Ireland’s employment law framework remains fit for purpose and adapts to the evolving contemporary workplace.

The Tánaiste has also agreed to convene a working group to examine issues around employment status and discuss the potential to improve systems by which correct employment status can be determined. I Chair this Group which held its first meeting on Wednesday 13th of April. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, ICTU, Ibec, the Construction Federation of Ireland and ISME are all represented as members.