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

Average wages in Ireland are higher than the European average, as I think the Deputy will acknowledge. There have been increases linked to productivity, which is good. That would be a priority. Again, even if purchasing power is factored in, our minimum wage is the sixth highest in the 27 EU member states. That is factoring in the cost of living, and so on. We will work with the social partners in respect of this current inflationary cycle and in terms of national agreements and so forth. However, critically, in the next number of days, Government will take measures that will help to alleviate the impact of the current inflationary cycle on people, particularly those on low incomes who are feeling the brunt of the rise in the cost of fuel. As I outlined earlier, internationally, the price of oil and gas has risen exponentially. We need to cushion that blow. It is seeping into the other aspects of the economy in terms of price rises as well. We are determined to take measures that will help people deal with this situation.

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