Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

As far as I can see, the only 360 degree revolution has been that taken by the Deputy. When she asked me this day last week about the national minimum wage, she seemed to be incredulous that the Government was serious about proceeding with the reversal of the cut in the national minimum wage. I told her that the Government had determined that it was going to reverse the cut which we considered to be wrong and inflicting pain on the lowest paid. The Government is proceeding to reverse it. When I was asked about the issue last week by the Deputy, I told her the Attorney General was being consulted as to whether it could be done by way of an order or legislation. I can tell her today that it will be done by way of primary legislation. To that end, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will be publishing the heads of a Bill to give effect to the commitment made before 31 May. It is the Government's intention to reverse the cut in the national minimum wage and it will proceed.

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