Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government's decision not to increase the national minimum wage in budget 2020 was a slap in the face to the 137,000 workers who currently earn the minimum wage. Sinn Féin has long called for progression to a full living wage but the Government's priorities are clear; it does not care about low-paid workers.

Sinn Féin has shown how a living wage could be introduced while also protecting financially vulnerable businesses. Anti-worker propaganda from Fine Gael will not change the facts and to add insult to injury, Fine Gael will use Brexit as a smoke screen to deny minimum wage workers a 30 cent increase.

People who work full time week in and week out should not be on the border of poverty because of the Government's inaction. The same inaction means the Government is forcing workers to rely on the family working payment at a tremendous cost to the State. Is this the financial prudence about which the Government is so fond of spouting out? I do not think so.

The Government might be happy to dangle an increase in the minimum wage in front of workers but an increase on the never-never will not help workers who are financially crucified by the increase in rent costs, astronomical childcare costs and an insurance industry that has completely lost the run of itself. These workers cannot wait for the good grace of the Government, because they will be left waiting.

Sinn Féin is on the side of workers. Sinn Féin wants workers to have the decent quality of life they are working hard to achieve. If any party in this House makes out that it supports workers rights, it should support this motion tonight.

See this speech in context