(1) Any organisation claiming to be substantially representative of employees or employers in the State may apply to the Minister for his or her opinion as to whether a relevant national economic agreement exists for the purpose of section 12.
(2) Where in the opinion of the Minister there is no relevant national economic agreement as referred to in section 12 or, if there is such an agreement, it makes no recommendation in relation to the national minimum hourly rate of pay of employees that should obtain for the duration of the agreement, the Minister shall, in writing, advise the applicant accordingly.
(3) Any organisation which the Labour Court is satisfied is substantially representative of employees or employers in the State may separately or jointly, not earlier than 12 months after the Minister has last declared a national minimum hourly rate of pay of employees under section 11, request the Labour Court to examine the national minimum hourly rate of pay of employees and m