Noel Grealish (Galway West, Progressive Democrats)

The figures I mention represent a great achievement by the Government. If Sinn Féin got into government we would have serious problems in this country. The Opposition seems to have amnesia in respect of working standards in this country. In 1997, when the rainbow Government's Minister for Enterprise and Employment was Deputy Bruton and the Minister of State at that Department was Deputy Rabbitte, nothing was done on pay matters. In contrast, it was their successor, the Tánaiste and former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who introduced the minimum wage for the first time in Ireland.

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