Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The difficulty is that although the Deputy may expect a Conservative Party majority, I do not know what the electorate will choose. The Deputy believes that if the Conservatives do not get a majority, there may be a referendum. All I can base my decision on is the fact that we are three years down the line from the British public first deciding it wished to leave the European Union and there is still much confusion in the minds of parliamentarians and the electorate. The British public will have the opportunity to decide on its future on 12 December. As soon as we get clarity on that choice, I will be able to make a decision. I am not trying to be evasive. I am not as confident as the Deputy that we can predict the outcome of the election.

I am dismayed that Deputy Quinlivan supports an amendment that would lead to no increase for anybody next year. I do not believe that is his intention or that of Sinn Féin. It is not the intention of Deputy Bríd Smith. I understand his frustration which all Deputies share; the Deputy does not have a monopoly on it. I wish it had been possible for me to make a decision on the day. Similarly, I am sure the members of the Low Pay Commission who deliberated on this issue for many months would have preferred to make a more definitive decision. They decided to increase the minimum wage in the event of an orderly Brexit. Unless the Deputy knows something that no one else in this Chamber does, we must await the election. We have agreed to increase the minimum wage if there is an orderly Brexit. I hope it is orderly and that we will be in a position to increase the minimum wage on 1 January.

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