The order, which will see the minimum rate of pay for some 16,000 workers in the sector increase from €11.65 to €12.90 per hour, was originally set to be commenced in August 2022 and will now take effect from 4 September 2023.

It was delayed as a result of legal action brought by employers Top Security, Morbury Limited, and LAS Security Limited, which ended in a settlement at the end of July, at which point the injunction was lifted.

Neal Richmond, minister of state for business, employment and retail at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said: “As the legal situation has been resolved, I have now signed the order.

“The delay in commencing this order has been difficult for the thousands of workers impacted, and I would like to thank them for their patience over the past year.

“I would also like to thank the members of the joint labour committee for security and the Labour Court for their important work in delivering this order.

“I remain strongly supportive of the State’s collective bargaining and wage setting mechanisms, and the important work of the joint labour committees in setting employment regulation orders.”