Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Tánaiste to the committee. To follow on from what Senator Ruane asked, the CSO has stated that the figure of 60% of the median wage still leaves people at risk of poverty, and the Tánaiste seemed to agree that is the case. On that basis, does he believe the Government's calculation is appropriate or is he hoping to change that? A lot of people earning the minimum wage who are hopeful of a living wage are women, given it is generally in accommodation, food, wholesale and retail that the minimum wage is paid. The programme for Government has a commitment to delivering a living wage in four years but the general consensus, after the increase in the minimum wage in the budget, is that it will take at least ten years to get to a living wage. How does the Tánaiste hope to resolve that? These are the people who get up early in the morning.

On the Workplace Relations Commission, the budget seems to have acknowledged that not enough people work there. I believe there are only 50 labour inspectors and that figure needs to increase to 90. Will the Tánaiste clarify the core funding budget for that and how the Government hopes to make up the shortfall?