Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Will the discussions, which the Taoiseach expects to take place in the autumn between trade unions and private sector employer organisations, deal with the issue of pay in the private sector? I ask the Taoiseach to respond to the question I asked on the national minimum wage, which has been with the Labour Court for some time. When does he expect the Labour Court to issue its views and findings on the national minimum wage? What is the Government's thinking on the national minimum wage? There has been speculation that the Government was contemplating reducing the national minimum wage. Will the Taoiseach deny that speculation and give an assurance to those who are on the national minimum wage that it will not be cut?

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