Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank People Before Profit-Solidarity for introducing the motion. It is well timed, given the main item we have been discussing in recent weeks has been the increase in the cost of living. Many factors are contributing to the increase but I do not believe that wages in this country, and especially lower ones, are one of them. An argument can be made that an increase in wages will lead to an increase in the inflation rate and in the cost of production, but everybody who is willing and able to work needs the State to give them a commitment that they will have a living wage.

I have come across many people in my constituency who are working for less than the living wage. Every day, they face additional challenges, yet they are still willing and able to work. They do not want to sponge off the State but to work and contribute. Many lower paid workers prevail in industries such as cleaning and security, as was mentioned. When the Covid lockdowns and restrictions were in place, these were front-line workers, who may not have been getting anything more than the minimum wage. They were doing work that was essential and they continue to do it, so we need to support them.

Sometimes people are segregated whereby if they do not have an education or certain skills, their contribution to society is considered lesser than that of those who have received an education. Some people, however, have developed manual skills that are essential in this country. The construction industry is one example where our challenge now is to find and provide enough workers who will lay the bricks, carry out the plastering and electrical works and get the job done. We are finding it difficult to get people to do that in order that we can meet our commitments in the national development plan as well as those regarding housing and so on. It is a significant problem and the minimum wage is part of that. We have an opportunity to say to people who want to work that work pays. When they have spent 40 hours working, they should know they will have enough money in their pockets to look after their families, feed themselves and have some enjoyment in life, rather than it being a constant struggle, day in day out, week in week out, as they count on a Monday morning what is left over from the previous week. Having to live in such a frugal way is unfair and wrong. It is time we reconsidered the minimum wage. Employers need to come to the table and recognise that the workers on their payroll ensure their businesses remain active and economically viable. It is not a huge ask.

We are now emerging from the Covid pandemic, following all the closures that happened in the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors and the struggles they faced. The main challenge now for these sectors relates to getting in staff in order that they can open their hotels and restaurants and serve people in shops and other retail outlets. They cannot get them because people have not been sufficiently incentivised to go to work. That needs to happen in order that the gap between social welfare and working is of such a nature that people can see the benefit of working. Long term, they will contribute. Tax credits are good and will help, but they will not do enough on their own. For those who are exiting social welfare and entering full-time work, there should be a transition arrangement whereby they can retain a large share of their benefits for, perhaps, three to five years until they can find their feet in the industry.

As well as that, we need to return to the fundamental issue. If someone is working for 40 hours a week, he or she needs to have enough money to pay the bills, look after his or her children and home and have a little enjoyment in life. This is an opportunity for the Government - we will all support it in taking this step - to raise the minimum wage as a counter-reaction to the inflation that exists. We must also ensure we are in a position whereby we can say to people that it is worth their while to work. I will now hand over to my colleague Deputy Tóibín.

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