The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has said that a proposed pay increase for the security industry will not take effect next week after a High Court injunction.

The injunction prevented the junior minister at the department, Damien English, from commencing the statutory instrument giving effect to a new Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the sector.

A statement from the department said that, accordingly, the increases in minimum pay rates for the industry announced on 3 August would not now have statutory effect from 29 August.

The ERO would have provided a new minimum rate of pay of €12.50 an hour, with a second increase to €12.90 an hour from 1 February 2023.

Injunction granted

Lawyers for three security companies had challenged, by way of judicial review, the minister's decision, and the proposals of the Labour Court for the sector.

The High Court heard earlier this week that the three companies considered that the process supported the interests of the big rather than the smaller employer, produced an anti-competitive outcome, and tended to reduce employment in the industry by encouraging clients to turn to cheaper technology solutions and fewer static guards.

Ms Justice Nuala Butler granted the injunction and put a stay on the introduction of the new regulations. She adjourned the judicial review proceedings until early November.