Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a few questions on the minimum wage. I wish to pick up on comments from Chambers Ireland and ISME on the minimum wage. Following the budget, I did not hear any commentary on or criticism of the fact that the Minister increased the training levy element of employers' wage costs. Maybe something was said and I missed it. However, given the witnesses' comments and concerns about the low-pay commission's recent awards on the minimum wage, the response seems very different. Have the witnesses any hard numbers or data on knock-on pay claims being experienced by their members or member industries following the recent increases in the minimum wage? As I understand it, there are approximately 80,000 people on the minimum wage. While that is a big number, it is a small percentage of the overall labour force.

I find it difficult to accept how the paltry increase in the minimum wage was such a big issue for the witnesses. Can the witnesses explain that to me?