Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We need to move more quickly to a real living wage, not the rebranded, watered-down version Government has in mind.

In its costed alternative budget, Labour has ring-fenced €1.3 billion for a new public service pay agreement. The talks have yet to commence, but this would allow for a cumulative increase of in the region of 5% next year for nurses, healthcare assistants, teachers, SNAs, gardaí, council workers and civil servants.

See this speech in context