Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Does the Taoiseach intend to summon an immediate meeting of the Low Pay Commission to address the Government's breach of Article 4.1 of the European Social Charter on the issue of the national minimum wage and young workers in this country? The European Committee of Social Rights has stated that the fact that someone who is 18 gets 80% of the minimum wage and someone who is 19 gets 90% of the minimum wage pushes them below the threshold of 50% of average earnings that the charter states is the minimum for a decent standard of living. The committee has also said that the Government and this State are not in conformity with the European Social Charter. Deputy Paul Murphy has asked a relevant question as to whether the Government intends to support the People Before Profit-Solidarity Bill that aims to abolish these exemptions. The Bill will come up for debate tomorrow morning and will be voted upon tomorrow night. Does the Taoiseach intend to summon an immediate meeting of the Low Pay Commission to address this serious matter?

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