Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to support this motion and thank Deputy Barry for bringing it forward.

Let us make one thing clear, namely, that for anybody who looks and applies for a job, the minimum wage is now the starting wage for most companies. We have one of the highest rates of low pay in the developed world, with 20% of our workers in low-paid jobs and 50% of women currently earning €20,000 or less. That needs to be addressed. A full-time worker on the minimum wage only earns €1,774 before tax and USC. Take away rent, mortgage, food, shopping, massively increased energy costs, childminding etc. and what does that leave people at the end of the week or month? It means those on a living wage have virtually nothing left to alleviate the daily worries of feeding themselves or their family, paying their rent or heating their house. To top it off, we now have the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming, arrogantly stating people just have to shop around. I am glad he has now realised how insulting that was, but if his apology is to mean anything, then this Government must now start not only talking about increasing the minimum wage but looking seriously at a living wage for all. The living wage technical group estimates workers need at least €12.90 per hour to achieve even the minimum acceptable standard of living. That is all people are asking for, namely, a fair society where they can work, live and plan for the future.

Like many motions brought to this House by the Opposition, this is about fairness. I urge the Government to support it but I will not ask those on the minimum wage to hold their breath while they wait for it to do so.

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