Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the Low Pay Commission recommended the abolition of sub-minimum wages for workers under the age of 20. I cannot say that any of us were surprised by the recommendation because maintaining a discriminatory system for young people could never have stood up to scrutiny when evaluated on the evidence. We all know that young workers have rent to pay and other living expenses. They are affected by price hikes and increases in the cost of living, including in respect of everyday goods, travel and transport. Those are the normal expenses that so many are struggling to cover in this cost-of-living crisis. It is true that there is still a way to go, but as our school completion rates become the envy of other countries, which I acknowledge, the rationale for pay discrimination that leaves young people so vulnerable simply cannot hold water. This is an argument the Labour Party has made for years. Labour Youth has been spearheading a campaign for the abolition of sub-minimum wages for workers under the age of 20. We have also been campaigning on the basis that Ireland needs a pay rise. We need to tackle the serious levels of low pay across the country. I pay tribute to all who have campaigned on the issue and to the members of the Low Pay Commission for this important recommendation.

The commission was established by my Labour Party colleague Deputy Nash. It is an important body. I hope the Taoiseach and his colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will act on its recommendation without delay. I also welcome the recommendation that a review mechanism should be built in to ensure no unforeseen consequences arise from a change in policy. It is important that the recommendations are acted upon.

We know that campaigns on workers' rights are not always popular endeavours. We must recall, and we in the Labour Party are particularly mindful, that workers' rights are core to the welfare of our communities. Workers' rights dictate whether economic success is worthwhile and trickles down to communities. Workers' rights make the difference for us all between living to work and working to live. They impact on our health and housing, and on the social cohesion of our communities. They are foundational to us, as a party, and to our communities across the country.

In recent times, we saw what appeared to be a shift within Fine Gael towards a not entirely convincing commitment to workers' rights. Even that slight shift appears to have changed again in recent months. Our concern is that the advent of a new energy in Fine Gael has meant the advent of a dangerous precedent for those bodies which have been pushing for better conditions for workers. We have seen some public efforts made from within the Taoiseach's party to exert influence over the Low Pay Commission and to slow progress towards a living wage for those lowest paid workers in Ireland. I give the Taoiseach the opportunity to repudiate any rowing back of his party's commitment to workers' rights. Will he act on the Low Pay Commission recommendation to abolish sub-minimum rates of pay for young people? Will he lead the charge in advocating for the introduction of a real living wage to ensure the lifting of all boats as our economy strengthens?

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