Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I welcome the Tánaiste's statement referring to the letter that is on its way to me from the Taoiseach to the effect that the HSE circular was issued in error. Can I take it that agencies which do not comply with the stated wishes of the HSE to cut staff pay will not, as a result, have their allocations cut correspondingly by the HSE?

I note the Tánaiste has hedged her bets on the national minimum wage. As I understand it, that issue has been with the Labour Court since November 2008. We do not seem to be any further advanced on it. We hear every day that the Government wants to restore confidence, purchasing power and get retail activity moving again. However, it is difficult for people, particularly those on low pay, to make purchasing commitments if they do not know what their wages are going to be next year. It is time the Government came off the fence concerning the national minimum wage. It should give a categorical and fair assurance that the national minimum wage will not be cut.

I do not want to anticipate the debate on the Bill and the Government's amendment with regard to the inability to pay clause for EROs. However, I interpret what the Tánaiste is saying to mean that it will only apply on a voluntary basis. If that is the case, so be it, but let us see what is actually being proposed by the Government.

The one question the Tánaiste did not reply to was when I asked her for an assurance that workers who have taken a pay cut, and particularly those who have had their pay cut twice in the past year, would not have their pay cut again. At the weekend, we heard the Taoiseach's radio interview in which he spoke of the necessity for restoring confidence to the economy, all of which we agree with. However, if people are to have confidence in the economy and consumer confidence is to be restored, people need to have some certainty about their earnings. Will the Tánaiste give an assurance that the Government will not be going back a third time to cut the pay of employees whose pay has already been cut?

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