Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2024
284. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the minimum rate of pay for healthcare assistants and social care support staff employed by private companies, in view of the increasing rate of staff turnover in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29464/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister I have no means available to me to review pay in any sector. There are statutory provisions available to employer organisations and trades unions to request that such reviews to be undertaken by the Labour Court.
The Government strongly supports Ireland’s industrial relations wage-setting mechanisms. I believe collective bargaining is an important element of ensuring industrial relations stability in Ireland. While minimum wage setting mechanisms should not replace traditional collective bargaining between autonomous representative organisations of workers and employer representatives, they play an important role in strengthening industrial harmony.
