Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Solidarity-People Before Profit for putting this motion forward. We in Sinn Féin have consistently called on consecutive Governments to introduce a living wage for workers. A living wage has been outlined as the absolute minimum required for a single person working full time to live with any kind of dignity. In 2019, a Sinn Féin motion calling for a living wage was passed in this Chamber as recognition for the huge contribution low-paid workers make to the economy, but Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens have refused to implement this. Sinn Féin is again calling on the Government to do more for workers throughout this State. Childcare costs continue to increase and have gone through the roof. Transport costs have gone up. Energy costs have spiralled out of control, and most middle- and low-income workers have no medical card or access to supports such as fuel allowance or the housing assistance payment. The working poor now need relief. The most recent figures on rents show that rents in Laois have gone up by 11.3% in one year. Offaly has seen a 14.6% increase in one year. Has the minimum wage gone up in line with that? No it has not. Have wages across the board gone up? No they have not.

This is a crisis in the cost of living. Last year inflation was up 5.5% while the minimum wage increased by just 2.9%. The living wage technical group has calculated a rate of €12.90 per hour as the absolute minimum required to ensure workers are not living in poverty. We are calling on the Government to produce a roadmap to deliver that living wage within a strict timeframe because this can has been kicked down the road long enough.

It is also vital we address the unequal power relationship that exists between workers and employers. We need to see collective bargaining legislation introduced to give workers a legal right to be represented by a trade union of their choice. This is the only way workers can collectively use the bit of power they have to bargain for better pay and conditions. All Governments have refused to do that. Fianna Fáil trenchantly refused to do it back in the 2000s. Consecutive Governments have failed to introduce this legislation and it must happen now.

The number of billionaires in this State has increased dramatically again this year. Figures that came out in the new year showed that. The shift in power and in money is going to a smaller few the whole time. It is time the ordinary workers, that is, the people who struggle every day to get to work, to pay the high cost for transport, car insurance and everything else, got a break. They need an absolute guarantee of a living wage.

See this speech in context