Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have heard a number of claims about the Labour Court in this session. I am happy to deal with this matter because the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and I are working closely on it. The concept that the Labour Court is in any way being used as a delaying tactic on this issue gives no recognition to how important that institution is and the important role it played, most notably and recently in dealing with the great difficulty we had in regard to nurses' pay. As has been said, it is precisely because the Government recognises the needs of low income workers that they are prioritised in the current agreement. This Government has increased the minimum wage on several occasions and has ensured, through our current wage agreement, that low income workers who do difficult and vital work, particularly in our hospitals, are at the forefront in terms of wage restoration. This is what we have done. The Minister and I will do what we can today to deal with this issue.

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