I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this really important matter. As he will be aware, the Low Pay Commission recommended the abolition of the subminimum rates in March 2024. The Low Pay Commission highlighted in its report that this is a complex issue. It stated that the Government will need to give the findings and recommendations detailed consideration and deliberation, and highlighted the need for the Government to take its own legal advice on this really important matter. I agree with the commission that this is a complex issue. Our Department is giving these findings and recommendations its full consideration. Our Department has commissioned an economic impact assessment of the commission’s recommendations. These recommendations were accompanied by a research report by the ESRI. While the study provides valuable information on the incidence and characteristics of subminimum employment in Ireland during 2022, it stops short of modelling the impact of making changes to youth rates in the here and now. Recent significant increases in the minimum wage show the Government’s commitment to fair wages for low-paid workers in our economy, but it is also important to acknowledge the challenges being faced by the small and medium enterprise sector in recent years. We know the use of subminimum youth rates is largely concentrated in the accommodation, food and retail sectors and that these sectors have reported considerable cost pressures in recent times. It is important we give this issue the full care and the deliberation it requires, rather than rushing into a decision that could have unintended consequences for young people and employers. The Government will make a decision on these rates after the economic impact assessment has been completed and any required legal advice is available to us.
Sentiment score: 0.21
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Certainly, it is a more nuanced issue than he is suggesting. It is really important that our Department compiles the economic impact assessment which will provide more up-to-date data. The previous Low Pay Commission and ESRI reports on the use of subminimum rates were back in 2022. We want to independently evaluate the economic impact. We also want to model the impact on making the changes to the youth rates on firms of different sizes and in different sectors, such as accommodation, hospitality and retail, and also within the regions. We also want to examine any potential unintended impact from making changes, such as an increase in unemployment of youth workers and also the possibility of young people exiting formal education in favour of entering the workforce. It is complex. It has been referred to the issues we need to assess. We have made substantial support available and given a commitment to support workers. We have a very strong record of introducing new workers' rights and we have also seen the introduction of many measures relating to the minimum wage, requests for remote working and statutory sick leave, as well as tips and gratuities which was a recent progressive initiative undertaken by the Government.
Sentiment score: 0.17
Go raibh maith agat. It is an issue I have raised with the Department in preparation for today's Oral Questions. We do want this economic impact assessment to be provided, evaluated and reviewed. As I said, we have made substantial increases in the national minimum wage. The current system for youth rates is a percentage of the full minimum wage. They have also seen an increase in recent times. We have also made progressive changes in policies impacting all workers across all ranges, including banning zero-hour contracts, enacting the tips legislation and learning from the pandemic around statutory sick pay. We have, therefore, undertaken substantial measures. However, we must also consider the real impact, cost and competitive pressures on certain sectors, such as in hospitality, retail and accommodation. This aspect needs to be factored in before we make any decision concerning the implementation or abolition of the subminimum youth rates. We will take this in the context of moving forward in the months to come.
Sentiment score: 0.03
I thank Deputy Coppinger for raising this important matter. My Department complies with public procurement guidelines for goods and services and relevant EU and national legal requirements and obligations. The aim of these European and national rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. Public procurement rules include provisions that require a tenderer to meet certain standards when applying for public contracts. Applicants are required to make declarations in relation to their financial and legal standing and in relation to payment of taxes and social contributions. Procurement regulations require tenderers to comply with applicable obligations in the fields of environmental, social and labour law. These obligations apply at the place where the works are carried out or where services are provided. They are established by EU and national law, collective agreements or by international, environmental, social, and labour law. The Office of Government Procurement, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, provides guidance and a suite of procurement documentation to help contracting authorities to ensure that successful tenderers and subcontractors comply with all such applicable obligations. As part of the procurement process, my Department checks compliance with the tendering documentation, including all of the tenderer’s declarations and statements. Following contract award, contractors are required to ensure ongoing compliance with the contract provisions, including those relating to employment law. If required, the contractor must furnish information relating to the terms and conditions of the employment of all persons providing the services. Where the contractor fails to comply with their obligations under the contract and fails to remedy the situation, the contract can be terminated.
Sentiment score: 0.29
I thank the Deputy. I am not fully familiar with the Veolia situation. The current approach is comprehensive, adequate and proportionate and aligns with the EU principles of openness, fairness and transparency. With all State contracts, each bidder in the procurement process must sign a statement confirming that if it is awarded any service contract, it will in the performance of that contract comply with all applicable obligations in the field of labour law and social and environmental law. That is really important. During the life cycle of the contract, the contract manager has the power to act in respect of breaches by contractors of employment or law obligations. That can lead to termination of the contract. There are severe consequences in place for those who do not comply with their legal obligations. We have national rules governing public procurement that must comply with EU requirements, as I said earlier. It is important also to note that employment law and its enforcement, both public and private, is a matter for the State authorities including the WRC and the Labour Court in conjunction with the Departments of enterprise and of social protection.
Sentiment score: 0.21
We have a really strong track record in respect of our Office of Government Procurement and contract obligations. I am not aware of the situation the Deputy has raised with the company in question. There is a cohort of mechanisms in place within the employment law framework here in Ireland in conjunction with the Labour Court and the WRC, and also within the Departments of enterprise and social protection. If there are any issues the Deputy would like to raise with me, I can take them off-line.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The national hydrogen strategy was published in July 2023 and is our first major policy statement on renewable hydrogen. It marks an important first step in developing an indigenous hydrogen industry in Ireland. The strategy sets out our strategic vision for the role that hydrogen will play in Ireland’s energy system and as a key component of our zero-carbon economy. The three primary strategic reasons for developing an indigenous hydrogen sector in Ireland are to decarbonise our economy, enhance our energy security, and create industrial and export market opportunities. There are 21 actions set out within the strategy to enable the development of the hydrogen sector in Ireland. These actions aim to remove barriers to early hydrogen project developments and to enhance our knowledge through targeted research and innovation across the hydrogen value chain, laying the groundwork to deliver on our long-term strategic vision. These actions have varying timelines for completion by 2030 and work has started on a number of them. These include identifying the amount of surplus renewable energy that will be available for hydrogen production, putting in place the legal and regulatory framework for this new industry, and examining the feasibility of exporting hydrogen. We are currently finalising a detailed implementation plan for the multi-year work programme set out in the strategy to ensure appropriate governance arrangements are in place to support delivery of the actions set out within the strategy. Implementation will involve a number of Departments including the Department of Transport and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and other stakeholders. Careful planning and management structures are essential. Once completed, further clarity on the status of all actions set out within the strategy and the annual work programmes to deliver on these will be communicated. It is expected that the detailed implementation plan will be finalised in quarter 2 of this year.
Sentiment score: 0.34
Certainly, the potential is enormous. I talked to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and officials about this really important matter yesterday. Work has commenced on the implementation of the strategy in parallel with the delivery of many of the 21 actions currently in place that I outlined earlier. The delivery and commencement programme this year will be an important step forward in that regard and will ultimately be key to the long-term success of this sector. We have a very ambitious renewable energy programme and hydrogen is a key component of that. A number of key Government stakeholders are involved, including the Departments of transport and enterprise. They are all playing their part in trying to bring forward the best possible programme to ensure that we have proper management and governance and that we can deliver on our actions. That is really important. Later this year we will provide further clarity on the programme once it is approved in the second quarter of 2025.
Sentiment score: 0.43
This is something that the Department is engaging with the industry on, including with many of the key stakeholders in the industry who are working in the area of hydrogen itself, along with the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. We are working on this from a safety point of view, as well as in terms of best practice to ensure that we have the best and safest practices going forward. As regards the actions, milestones and the ownership timelines and dependencies, a working group is currently in place which was established around the three pillars of safety and regulations infrastructure, the integrated energy system market, and commercialisation. That group is tasked with the ultimate delivery of these milestones and actions. We are currently working on these themes through the working group. We will bring a plan to finalisation and seek Government approval for that in the coming months.
Sentiment score: 0.45
I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this important issue. The national broadband plan, NBP, is the Government's initiative to deliver high-speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. National Broadband Ireland is connecting more than 4,000 homes each month. In the Deputy’s own county of Cork, more than 36,490 premises are passed with a high-speed broadband network and 40,345 are available to order or preorder, with 12,891 premises now connected. A further 45,505 premises in Cork will be passed by the NBI’s high-speed broadband by the end of the contract. In addition, 91 schools are connected to high-speed broadband through the strategic connection points. Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork and can be monitored via the NBI's website and email. The NBI roll-out will include the Dunmanway, Ballingeary and Carriganimmy deployment areas, with 4,391, 874 and 4,061 premises, respectively. Dunmanway is at survey complete stage with a timeline of July 2026. Ballingeary is also at the survey complete stage with a timeframe of July 2026 to December 2026, and Carriganimmy deployment is at the survey under way stage with a timeline of July 2026 to December 2026. The NBI has maintained momentum across the State throughout 2024 and the roll-out is progressing ahead of schedule, with more than 326,000 premises available for connection at the end of 2024, and more than 420,000 forecast for the end of 2025. The NBI is now passing more than 10,000 new homes and businesses with high-speed broadband every month, which leaves the NBI plan well placed to be completed by the end of 2026 and within budget.
Sentiment score: 0.10
The Deputy raised an important point. NBI has done a tremendous job on the roll-out. It is an all-of-Ireland contract across each of the Twenty-six Counties and significant progress has been made, as I said. More than 65,000 homes, farms and businesses are being moved to early completion dates in 2025, nine months earlier than had been originally scheduled, so NBI has made significant progress. I come from a rural constituency and there are people in deployment areas who have to wait that bit longer while they see their neighbours being connected up the road. It is just the nature of the contract that NBI has engaged in. There are other elements within the Department around the digital connectivity strategy where we are looking at the roll-out of 5G across the country by 2030. All households and businesses will be covered by a gigabit network no later than 2028. In parallel with the NBI plan, we are making significant progress to strengthen and build more resilience into our telecommunications system.
Sentiment score: 0.24
I understand the Deputy's frustration and the passion he has for the delivery of this in the areas he represents. However, there has been significant progress in the priority areas such as deployment to schools and enterprise hubs and in ensuring that they have the right manpower in each of the areas to cover each of the regions. We have seen the success in many communities in terms of what the connection to NBI has made to the lives of those who need it. I will take the points the Deputy raised. NBI has opened an Oireachtas line for any engagement regarding potential timelines. I will take the Deputy's feedback back to NBI and ensure that we have continuous monitoring of the surveys, build and construction and that those who order or preorder get connected in a timely manner.
Sentiment score: 0.35