Mr. Ois?n Gilmore:

I could not tell the Deputy because I am not aware of what decisions other countries are making. I can tell him that Ireland is not the only country to introduce significant minimum wage increases this year and last. If one compares the increases in the minimum wage last year, despite Ireland's increase in the minimum wage being one of the higher increases that the Low Pay Commission has recommended, it was middle of the pack relative to other European countries. My understanding is that this year, again, minimum wage increases across the EU will be quite high.