Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Government is anxious to ensure people on lower pay are adequately rewarded and that every effort is made to ensure the minimum wage increases in line with the consumer price index or by more. That has been happening to date and this issue is being considered in the talks.

It is Government policy to ensure the minimum wage increases to protect the interests of workers on lower wages. It is significant that it was in the lifetime of the previous Government that the minimum wage was first introduced. I accept Deputy Howlin is concerned but that concern was not apparent when his party held the finance Ministry.

See this speech in context