Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

All Deputies know the Low Pay Commission is an independent commission. Every Deputy in this House supports low-paid workers. The last five recommendations have been implemented by the Government. That is the whole reason behind having ICTU, unions and employers together on the commission. As has been said, ICTU was not in a position to accept the recommendation of 10 cent. It wanted a minimum increase of 20 cent.

The State's intervention in supporting workers has been unprecedented. Over 750,000 workers are now on one State support or other, including the pandemic unemployment payment. Three hundred and fifty thousand workers are being supported by the wage subsidy scheme. This is never acknowledged at all but it is an important State intervention and a necessary one because of the pandemic.

On Deputy Brady's point, I have heard before about Sinn Féin Members not taking their salaries. For years, the party has said its members would only take the average industrial wage.

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