Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It has been over a year since the House passed a Labour Party motion to increase incrementally the national minimum wage until it is pegged at 60% of median earnings. Despite that commitment and the commitment outlined by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald in the programme for Government, so far the Government has only managed to increase the national minimum wage by 10 cent. It has refused to amend the terms of reference of the Low Pay Commission that would make even reaching this low target a possibility. This morning the living wage technical group published its 2017 report which recommended a living wage of €11.70 per hour. Given the continuing rise in the cost of housing instanced, this will come as little surprise to anybody. Leaving aside the recommendation which I do not believe the Government will embrace, there is a formal resolution of the Dáil. Will the Taoiseach tell us in plain terms when and how either the resolution of the Dáil of last year that we work towards 60% of median earnings or the commitment contained in the programme for Government to at least reach €10.50 per hour will be achieved?

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