Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

We will see. When the plans for dealing with this Bill were being discussed on the Order of Business yesterday, many Deputies were anxious that the minimum wage provisions be taken out of it so they could vote against it. I ask Members to take a pragmatic approach to this matter. That involves trying to create work and give people an incentive to stop relying on social welfare. The establishment of the national employment and entitlements service and the one-stop shop will facilitate the profiling of those who are on the unemployed list in a particular area and the jobs that are available in that area. It will be possible to work with those people. It is something that has been requested for a long time. Why should it be opposed? We need to examine the pension proposals in an honest manner. Deputy Wallace will recall that many people in France objected to the proposal to increase the retirement age in that country from 60 to 62. President Sarkozy is telling us to change our corporation tax rate. He can come back and talk to us when he decides to increase the retirement age to 65.

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