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

It is not all confined to the Netherlands or the Italian region around Milan. However, the policy is clear. The Government is not returning to centralised bargaining, but it will continue to grow the economy. It is seeking to use many of the benefits of growth to create additional jobs because there are high unemployment levels and many students are coming out of schools and colleges.

However, at the same time we know that there are companies that have had productivity gains and gains on profitability, and we think wage increases are justified in those circumstances.

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