Coughlan turns down request to attend committee hearing

OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE ON ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT:A ROW has erupted over Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan's refusal to appear before an Oireachtas committee.

The Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment last month forwarded a report on obstacles to business in the Dublin commuter belt and asked her to come before it to answer questions on the actions being taken by her officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

However, Ms Coughlan replied that although the matters were in her remit, they were also being looked at by the group known as An Bord Snip. She suggested the TDs invite representatives of local enterprise committees instead.

Yesterday, Oireachtas committee chairman Labour TD Willie Penrose, said the Minister’s response “just isn’t good enough”. He pointed out that the group had visited many of the towns affected by the downturn, where local group had made detailed presentations which fed into the report. He believed Ms Coughlan had made a “major error”.

The committee is to write again to Ms Coughlan with a second invitation to come before it.

Earlier, representatives of shops told TDs that Ireland was rapidly becoming a “retail wasteland” where people living in towns and villages have no choice about where they shop.

While consumers would still be able to make their purchases, they will have to travel up to 20 miles to do so, Vincent Jennings, chief executive of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), said.

Mr Jennings said this year had seen an unprecedented level of store closures and job losses, and the futures of 40,000 people in the sector was hugely uncertain.

He said small shopkeepers should be allowed to pay new staff the minimum wage of €8.65 rather than current rates set by Joint Labour Committees (JLC), which were up to 20 per cent higher.

Higher JLC rates and a one-third premium on Sunday wage rates do not apply to many other retail outlets with which his members were in direct competition, he argued.

A Siptu official attacked the CSNA’s call for lower wages. “The reality is that most workers in the sector are not even receiving proper minimum rates. This is another cynical attempt to reduce pay for the lowest paid workers,” said Gerry McCormack.