Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have established the Low Pay Commission with a low pay rather than a poverty mandate. Its job is to have an evidence-based system for increasing the minimum wage as the system can absorb it. Obviously, there is a balance to be struck by it in looking at employment creation on the one side and increasing the minimum wage on the other. That is the balance that will be struck by the fine group of people who are involved who will look at the evidence. Having it evidence-based is the correct way to proceed. As the Deputy knows, the Taoiseach has flagged that an input will be made in July. If this creates issues or problems for employers, mitigation will be looked at as we move towards the budget. Obviously, the Government will be keen to implement the independent proposal made to it. Growth in living standards and employment numbers, both of which we need to see, can go hand in hand. Much of what we are doing involves trying to improve productivity and facilitate business innovations that allow higher living standards to be achieved.

Before I respond to what the Deputy had to say about younger people, it is worth focusing on the strong evidence on the pay front. The average salary in IDA Ireland-supported employment is approximately €55,000. The average salary in Enterprise Ireland-supported employment is approximately €42,000. A very considerable part of the growth in employment is coming from these companies. We know the average pay of many of those who have benefited from the employment increase because we actually record these figures. If one examines the CSO's indications for the sectors that are growing, one will see that employment is growing in many high paying sectors, particularly professional services, information and communications technology and high-end industry.

Of course there is some growth in employment in sectors that are traditionally lower paid, such as the hospitality sector.