Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach is aware, the Low Pay Commission issued its report and recommendations yesterday. The recommendations show that the commission's name is apt and well-earned. It is, indeed, the low pay commission. In any case, there has been talk in recent times of leprechaun economics and here it is - pots of gold for tax-evading multinationals and insulting pay recommendations for the little people.

I have a question on promised legislation as follows. My understanding is that there is a requirement to amend minimum wage legislation in order to change the rates. Is the Government prepared to reject this recommendation and go for something which would take low-paid workers out of poverty? These are poverty pay rates, so is the Taoiseach prepared to go above that and settle on a rate which is far more in line with what low-paid workers need?

The House's budget committee-----

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