Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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I could not find any of that either. I thank Dr. Bambrick. In the last couple of days, civil and public servants voted to accept pay rises that do not keep pace with inflation. That has been acknowledged by ICTU. It is 6.5% for the average and 7.8% for those on the lowest pay. I am not in any way trying to interfere with the democratic process within the trade union movement, nor did I ever thank any politician for interfering in it when I was on the other side of the table. I want to make a point with regard to returning, however. The president of ICTU said that should the need arise, and it very well might, the union reserves the right to use the clause within the agreement to return back to the negotiating table.

Similar can happen with regard to the minimum wage. Would Dr. Bambrick see there being a reasonable case to be made for reconvening the commission and asking it to make another suggestion? Would she see a scenario whereby the relevant Minister, obviously, in conjunction with the Minister for Finance, could take that decision independently if inflation is to go way further than is recommended?

As Dr. Bambrick rightly pointed out, it is money in, money out when a person is on a low income. It goes straight into the local economy. It goes right down to the local shop and into local businesses. However, would Dr. Bambrick foresee a scenario whereby either the Government itself can make a decision or the Low Pay Commission can be reconvened and asked to make an additional suggestion? It is very clear within the public service agreement how that will happen. Clearly, there is a mechanism in place to trigger those negotiations. How can that happen outside of that provision within the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission?