Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am precluded from expressing a view on the matter. However, it is important to say that there is an opinion among many companies which are struggling that the level at which national minimum wage is set is causing them difficulties. It is not necessarily that people are in receipt of the national minimum wage but these companies are of the view what is over and above that wage is causing those difficulties. We introduced the national minimum wage in the first instance in order to provide protection to people, particularly those working for vulnerable companies, who might not have had the capacity or capability to express their own views. On this occasion, the jury is out.

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