Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

That is quite disappointing because the situation has changed considerably since 2002, the year in which the research the Minister of State mentioned was conducted, in addition to the research from 2009. There is a substantial problem in this country in regard to low pay.

Some 22% or 23% of the working population is trying to survive on low pay and there is a significant problem with people in employment who are very poor. It is sometimes suggested that the solution to the problem of poverty is to get a job but we know, for hundreds of thousands of people in this country, getting a job means still being on very low income and struggling to survive. One of the key benefits of refundable tax credits is that they support people on low incomes and keep them out of poverty. On that basis, and given the scale of the problem with low incomes, as well as the lack of progress in moving to a living wage in spite of the commitment in the programme for Government, I ask that the Minister of State reconsiders that.

See this speech in context