Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have made the case that the previous Government restored, and increased, the minimum wage. It had been cut by the Fianna Fáil led Government. Given the unstructured way that claims for increases came forward, the previous Government set up the Low Pay Commission to examine the relevant proposals for increases in an objective way in order to get as many people as possible to move from unemployment into jobs that pay well. The Deputy would have a different argument if this was produced by the Government. The Low Pay Commission is completely independent and objective in its views, and the Minister will consider that in the context of the budget. That is the way to proceed.

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