Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are talking about the gender pay gap, which is an important issue because it represents a form of discrimination, but the general pay gap between lower-paid workers, who are also often women, and people at higher levels is also important. Years ago, people in lower paid jobs could have been confident that, when they retired, they would have a pension and they could try to get their kids through university, even though they may have hard pressed to do so. What other solution is there to deal with a pay gap that exists generally in society, than a legislative solution in the form of a minimum wage ?