Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy expressed views in regard to those people who are most vulnerable in our society. This Government, perhaps to the surprise of the Deputy and many others, has not reduced the basic rates of social welfare payments. We have taken more than 300,000 of the lowest-paid workers outside the scope of the USC, to which the Deputy referred. In addition, the Government has restored the minimum wage and the joint labour committee system for the determination of pay and conditions for lower-paid employees.

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