Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My question was already asked by Deputy Smith. According to figures from the Minister's office, expenditure on the Low Pay Commission for 2015 was €250,000, of which €155,000 went on pay and €95,000 went on non-pay matters. I am concerned about the rate of remuneration for certain members of the commission. The chair of the Low Pay Commission earned €22,493 from 2015 to the first quarter of 2016. In that period, according to a response to a parliamentary question I asked, he attended 22 meetings. That works out roughly at €1,000 per meeting. The same person has the nerve to recommend a ten cent increase for workers on the minimum wage. Surely if ever there was an example of gross hypocrisy, this is it. Deputy Smith outlined it quite well. It is embarrassing and insulting and will go nowhere towards reaching the minimum wage we need or even any progress towards a living wage. Does the Minister believe the Low Pay Commission is value for money because I do not think it is?