Mr. Ultan Courtney:

The Deputy is correct. There is a belief that it is required. We in the commission have articulated that belief to the Government and the Oireachtas but we do not have evidence as to whether it is going to pan out or not. We do not know and we will have to wait and see. There is this notion that by increasing the minimum wage, you damage employment prospects or change the balance between the hours that people work, but the evidence does not seem to be there to support that. As long as that is the case, we are happy to progress in the direction we are going. Certainly, in the case where we have full employment and a lot of growth in the economy, it is reasonably okay and we are content. If things change, we will have to look at it. That is why we took the view to go for a much higher increase this year because we thought that was something we should do. The evidence was in our favour and it is where we are at. Whether the employer supports are needed or not, and effective or not, is something that only time will tell.