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

I understand that the special European Council had some discussion on economic matters, including the position of small business and supports for small business. I also understand that the Taoiseach is bringing forward a package tomorrow. There are a few points I wish to make about that. I will start by saying hands off the minimum wage and hands off workers' sick leave. I am open to the idea of supports for small business. I do not have any ideological opposition to that but I am utterly opposed to any attempt to attack workers' rights in the name of helping small business. High rents are not going to go on hold. High prices at the supermarkets are not going to go on hold and the Government cannot go putting minimum wage increases on hold or on slowdown.

Fine Gael has always been, in my view, an anti-worker party but in recent times it has invested considerable energy in trying to portray an image of being a more worker-friendly party. However, if it tries to rein in pay increases for our lowest paid workers or leave entitlements for workers who are ill, that image will be in smithereens. It will be in smithereens in the run-in to a local election, a European election and a general election too. The Taoiseach might want to have a think about that.

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