Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

We can continue this debate when the House resumes in January, at which time we can review how many of the rates have been significantly reduced. We have to take everything in context. The Government has introduced measures to reduce other barriers to competitiveness. We cannot do all of that and not address our labour costs. I would be happy to come back into this House in a year's time and be proven wrong but I do not believe that will be the case. We had to take the tough decisions. The minimum wage rate issue is addressed in the four year plan.

We also had a debate in this House on zombie hotels. In this regard, I note what Mr. Paul Gallagher, president of the Irish Hotels Federation said, namely, that the proposal to reduce the minimum wage would be a major help in that sector. We cannot on the one hand be asking what will be done to help the tourism sector and on the other not listen to those involved in that sector when they say that the minimum wage is a barrier.

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