Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Wages in Ireland, at certain levels, are lower than in the economies described by the Deputy, albeit not dramatically so. Many of the wage rates for comparative work in the United Kingdom are about the same or lower. However, if one looks towards eastern Europe, the countries of which compete with us frequently, there are much lower pay rates. I recall that in my own home town of Limerick the reason the manufacturing end of Dell was transferred to Poland was Polish wage rates were far lower than those which prevailed in Ireland at the time. Consequently, when one talks about Europe, one should recall that there are 28 member states and that it extends far to the east.

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