Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this motion put forward by the Social Democrats. It speaks to the reality faced by many and highlights the fundamental inequality that exists between those on higher incomes and the majority of people who are just about existing and getting by on low incomes. The reality for too many people in employment is that they are earning barely enough to exist and many are living from wage packet to wage packet. Many have no safety net of savings or have insufficient income to deal with an unforeseen problem such as a domestic appliance breaking down and needing repair. Many families also do not have sufficient income to be able to set aside a portion to cope with any emergencies that might arise.

These are the realities of the financial pressures faced by many people in Ireland as they live day to day and week to week, according to what is in their wage packets and the bills they have to pay. Many are struggling to pay rent or mortgages and, before the lockdown, to pay the cost of childcare, which was often beyond the means of many parents. Such financial stresses can lead people into a spiral of debt and poverty. A proper living wage would go some way to address such inequalities in society. Sinn Féin has always advocated a living wage so that families can at least have a minimum standard of living. We have called for legislation on a national living wage to be enacted in order to ensure that workers receive proper remuneration for their labour and are given a proper living wage that would relieve the financial stresses and exploitation that many face daily.

Any proposals for the recovery of the economy should not involve regressive measures such as the exploitation of workers through low pay and contracts that lead to financial and social insecurity. In the past, we have seen how those most impacted upon by measures supposedly for the recovery of the economy have been the lowest paid and the most vulnerable in society. The burden of these recovery measures in the past fell disproportionately on those in society who are least able to shoulder it. This must not be allowed to happen again. From an economic point of view, a living wage will ultimately benefit the economy in the context of greater taxable income and increased spending power for the consumer. Decent pay for decent work is the very least that a worker should expect to get.

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