Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I raised the issue of the minimum wage with the Taoiseach last week in the context of the example of the five Davenport Hotel workers who had their wages lowered without their consent. The Labour Party and Fine Gael made commitments before the election to reverse the cut and restore the minimum wage. Does the Government remain committed to this and when will it be done? I was very perturbed that the Taoiseach said in response to me that he would need the approval of the EU and the IMF to reverse the decision by the last Government to reduce the minimum wage. At some point, the Taoiseach has to stop blaming the last Government for the actions of this Government. I am caught on what authority the Government has if it must get the permission of the EU and the IMF to rectify the reduction of the minimum wage. Does it remain a Government commitment and when will it be brought forward?

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