Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Labour)

I welcome this opportunity to contribute on the Government amendment. I want to use my time to speak against the United Left Alliance's motion. In recent weeks, many of my Labour colleagues and I have made our position on JLC rates clear. It is our firm belief that this is an urgent matter of concern for the Government. No doubt it is a topic that deserves robust debate in the Chamber, but the United Left Alliance's motion is hypocritical, to say the least. Last week, the United Left Alliance had its chance to vote in favour of the restoration of the minimum rate of pay to €8.65. Those Deputies voted against workers in this country.

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