Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

I am speaking of the measure in this Bill. As we know, the Bill does not just deal with the reduction of €1 in the minimum wage, but the measure in the Bill is morally corrupt. Since the two Ministers of State came into this Chamber two hours ago, they have earned half of what those on the minimum wage will earn in a full week, but not one cent will come from his gross salary as a result of the measures in the Bill. Some €140,000 gross is protected for Ministers of State. This is a scandalous and that is why Sinn Féin has put forward amendments, on which we will hopefully have a chance to vote, which would seriously reduce their payments and ensure that those on the minimum wage are protected. Therefore, the measure is morally corrupt. It is not just a reduction of €1 in the minimum wage but, as has been said by others, it also brings those on the minimum wage into the tax band through the universal social charge.

On the night of the budget I spoke with regard to what the universal social charge will do and how it will penalise low paid workers. We are seeing that now in the case of those who earn the minimum wage. I also pointed out that the universal social charge will benefit high earner workers. We know that now because the dirty details have come out that the self-employed and those in band D of the tax net, or anyone earning over €200,000 will benefit as a result of this measure. The millionaire, self-employed person, as a result of the budget and the changes in the taxation measures, will earn a net extra €23,000, yet Deputy Gogarty has come in here and expects Deputies to vote for a reduction in the minimum wage of €1 that will bring the lower paid into the tax band and reduce their wages, after 40 working hours, to under €300. If Deputy Gogarty does not think that is morally corrupt, we might need to have a discussion about his morals all over again.

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