180. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he intends to sign the new ERO for security officers into law, which would increase the wages of thousands of low paid security officers and alleviate some of the most painful consequences of this cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23539/24]

On the 25th August 2023, the then Minister for Business Employment and Retail signed the Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the Security Sector which came into force on 4th September 2023.  The ERO provided for a wage increase to €12.90 per hour from that date.  The full details of the ERO are available here: si-no-424-of-2023-employment-regulation-order-security-industry-joint-labour-committee-2023.pdf (enterprise.gov.ie)

Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) are independent in their functions. If a JLC adopts proposals for an ERO for a sector, it will submit them to the Labour Court for consideration. The Labour Court will then make a decision on the adoption of the proposals.  If the Court decides to adopt the proposals, a copy will be presented to me and, if I consider it appropriate to do so, I will make an ERO giving effect to the proposals.

I have not received a proposal from the Labour Court in relation to a new ERO for the Security Sector.  Should the Labour Court submit such a proposal, I will give it due and timely consideration.