A total of 46 submissions have been received by the Low Pay Commission, which is to advise the Government on the appropriate rate for the national minimum wage.

The chairman of the commission, Dr Donal de Buitléir, told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that the commission will be making its first report to the Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash by July 15th.

Dr de Buitléir said the Minister could change the recommended rate proposed by the commission but would have to go before the Dáil and explain his decision.

Dr de Buitléir said the commission had received 13 submissions from individuals and 33 from organisations.

Minimum wage

Trade unions have publicly called for an increase in the rate of the national minimum wage, which currently stands at €7.65 per hour. However, employer bodies have signalled their opposition to a rise.

Dr de Buitléir said he did not believe that any of the members of the commission were in the category of low-paid.

However, he said that “we all know people who are in the low-paid sector”.

The chairman of the commission was appointed by the Government. All the other members came through a public appointment process.