Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for coming to the committee. I want to talk about the living wage, some of the recommendations that ICTU has made, and the reference to Germany's good reminder of the 25% increase in the minimum wage from €9.82 per hour to €12.00 per hour. What is ICTU's view on setting a living wage at 60% of median income, and what is the union's view on the four-year phase-in period from next year? I am interested to start with those questions and I will then ask about how we can look at exempting businesses that might be able to prove that they would face job losses. We know that a reduction in hours is evidenced there. I am not sure that a reduction in job losses is evidenced there but certainly there is evidence for a reduction in hours. My questions are around the 60% of median income and the phase-in period.