KENNY WELCOMES CLARIFICATION ON DUFFY REPORT

Posted on May 27, 2011 3:18 PM   |   Permanent Link   

I welcome the clarification provided in the Dáil today by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin that there will be a full consultation process entered into with the Social Partners by the Government prior to any decisions being made on reforming the Joint Labour Committees system.

Speaking in the Dail today, Minister Howlin was clear that the discussions and deliberations on this matter would be on the basis of the Duffy/ Walsh Report and not on any other basis. That clarification is most welcome, as is Minister Howlin's assurance that there is no pre-determined outcome to these deliberations.

This matter is of great importance to workers nationally and the government need to approach it in that manner.

I will be making every effort as a Labour Party TD to ensure that there is no attempt to single out workers that are covered by the JLCs, many of whom are the lowest paid workers in the economy. Cutting pay at lowest levels will disincentivise work, driving more and more people onto the dole as a result and this would not be in the national interest.