Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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I thank our witnesses for the information provided. I would have preferred to receive a copy of this before I read about it on RTÉ. We can discuss that on another date.

On the calculation of the living wage, which is a stated aim of the Government - although it has put the timeframe for it outside the lifetime of its own Government, which is quite handy - 60% of the median hourly rate is where they are going. Do the witnesses have a view on how that should be done? Would the Irish Congress of Trace Unions, ICTU, be agreeable with 60% of the median? Would ICTU favour the minimum essential standard of living, MESL, approach? I understand there are pros and cons to both approaches but does ICTU have a preference for that? As encompassed by the living wage, does ICTU see the move to the living wage as being a realistic roadmap to the complete elimination of the sub-minimal rates of pay? We have not spoken about that. I understand it is not in Dr. Bambrick's submission but I am sure that she does have a view on it, as do I. There is an issue. It is not just that the headline figure is the minimum wage, there are still people who, some for legitimate reasons, do not attain the full rate. Some people are doing the same job but with the wrong date of birth are getting less money. I am interested in the witnesses' views on that.