Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has flagged its aim to reach the living wage by 2026. There is no electoral context. It is not linked to the lifetime of the Government. We are moving steadily towards it. Will Deputy Quinlivan clarify whether it is still Sinn Féin's position that 60% of the median wage, moving towards 66%, is a living wage, as was the general consensus, or has it changed? It is important that this is done in a phased and calculated manner. It is good for workers, but it also reflects the fact that this requires serious buy-in from employers of all sizes. We want to do this in a way that does not impact drastically on inflation and that is sustainable for workers and employers alike.

We are doing that and are making very substantial moves through the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission and I believe we will be well on course to reach that target by 2026, as has been set out for years at this stage.

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