Results 261-280 of 1,052,017 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Garret Ahearn OR speaker:Paul Donnelly OR speaker:Michael Healy-Rae OR speaker:Maurice Quinlivan OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe OR speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:Emer Higgins OR speaker:Brendan Howlin)
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Maurice Quinlivan: I thank Mr. Smyth. I now invite members to discuss the issue with the representatives here. We have a rota in place, as members know. We will go by that, and the first person who has indicated is Deputy O'Reilly, who has 14 minutes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Maurice Quinlivan: The Fine Gael slot is 15 minutes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: Will Dr. Coates repeat the numbers in terms of closures and reopenings in the hospitality sector? Will he also elaborate on what he means by the hospitality sector? Is it like for like in terms of opening and closures?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: What was the period?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: I am sure Dr. Coates appreciates that we get the opposite from groups representing the hospitality sector.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: In his view, this would be very different from what they are saying. Are they exaggerating the situation that exists in the hospitality sector at the moment?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: Does the Department not see an increase in the incidence of firm closures compared with last year?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: Okay.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: I appreciate that. If we compare it with January to May of last year, there is no significant increase in the number of closures.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: I appreciate that. It is interesting because that is very different from what we are getting from other groups. We are in a budget period, however, so it is understandable. The Low Pay Commission is recommending the abolishment of the payments for under-19s. In 2017, it recommended introducing this measure. What has changed? The commission knew all about the issues we are discussing in...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: I understand the then Minister asked for a review of it. It just seems like a total shift in opinion from the commission's previous recommendation. I cannot see anything that would not have been foreseen beforehand in the context of equal pay for everyone or people being paid less, the challenges that brings and the possibility of exploitation. I do not understand why the commission has...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Maurice Quinlivan: The Senator's time is up.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: I have one more question. It is hard to agree with 18- and 19-year-olds being paid a lower wage. I know education is a factor, but the majority of 18- or 19-year-olds are finished secondary school. As only 4% of 19-year-olds are being paid that wage, surely it would not be a big cost for the sector to give them full minimum wage.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: And considering that employers are paying almost all of them full wages.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Garret Ahearn: It was stated that one of the arguments against changing the sub-minimal rates is that young people might be the first to go, which is an obvious possibility when an employer is making a decision. Do the witnesses have statistics on the increase in youth employment when this was introduced? Obviously an employer would have seen it as an incentive at the time to take on someone young at a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sub-Minimum Rates of the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)
Maurice Quinlivan: That concludes our deliberations for today. I thank the representatives from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for assisting the committee in its consideration of these important matters. A number of questions were posed. We look forward to receiving responses to them. That concludes our business in public session. I propose that the committee go into private session to...
- National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Jul 2024)
Réada Cronin: I accept everything the Minister of State said. The Bill is about making sure children and vulnerable adults are safe. That is what is most important. There are different areas of risk. The Bill's provisions are relevant to people going for certain jobs or looking to do volunteering. During the Covid period, there were people in my area delivering food shopping to older people living...
- National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Jul 2024)
Paul Donnelly: I do not have much to add to what has been said by my colleagues. This important Bill needs to progress. I hope it is done in a speedy manner and that we have the opportunity to get it passed before the general election. I am not pre-empting the calling of the election. Perhaps the Minister of State will tell us today whether it will happen in September or October. I wish all my...
- National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Jul 2024)
Ruairi Ó Murchú: This is vital legislation. We must ensure we have absolute due diligence and a streamlined process in regard to vetting. I am saying more than I usually would while in the Chair. I received a telephone call just before the debate started concerning a new facility in County Louth to deal with vulnerable children. The caller is dealing with a particular issue and asked me whether I know...
- National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Jul 2024)
Question put and declared carried.