Mr. Brian Forbes:

Senator Quinn mentioned Irish labour costs. Based on the EUROSTAT labour costs report from 2011 Irish labour costs in the wholesale and retail sector are now substantially below those of most other EU 15 countries and well below average as well. Irish labour costs are 20.6% below the average of the other EU 15 countries, 26.2% below the average of other core EU 15 countries, that is, excluding the countries in the bailout, and 37.4% below the average of other small open economies, that is, economies with a similar economic structure to Ireland based on a small domestic market reliant on the export sector.

The Chairman raised a point about the family income supplement. Mr. Light has dealt with the temporary measure very well but I will add to his comments. This measure should be targeted primarily at precarious workers. The idea is to lower the threshold and make it available only to workers who have attempted to access additional hours but who have had their hours reduced. Our report shows that number to be rather significant at this stage.