Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Deputy Shortall is making an absolutely valid point which I support. The Sinn Féin Deputies absolutely object to the guillotining of this Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill. What a grand name. If ever there was a misnomer for a compendium piece of legislation, this is it. This is an enabling Bill to reduce the minimum wage. Calling it a €1 reduction, or going from €8.65 to €7.65, does not seem to hit quite the same note, but let us make no mistake about it - this will be at least €40 per week from the pockets of families who are depending on the basic standard of income. It is an absolutely disgraceful proposition that will cause untold harm to those families who are trying to cope at that level.

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