Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives of the Low Pay Commission and the Mandate trade union for being here. As a former union official who for years soldiered with Mandate on these issues concerning the minimum wage, I am delighted that the Mandate trade union is represented here today.

My first question is for the Low Pay Commission. Some people perceive the minimum wage as a transient or temporary first wage for people when they enter the labour market while others have a different view, including the trade union movement. Can Mr. Courtney give me some insight into how the commission perceives the national minimum wage?