Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Government welcomes yesterday's publication of the report of the Low Pay Commission. The Government, and specifically the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will now give it consideration. He will carry out an economic impact assessment and will then make recommendations to Cabinet, if that is the appropriate thing to do.

We must always take a balanced approach to these issues. I will not get into a political ding-dong but I am proud of the record of my party and this Government on workers' rights. I can point to a number of things we have done over the course of the past four years, including the increase of the minimum wage, the introduction of the statutory sick pay scheme, the parental leave Bill and the work being undertaken by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, in respect of auto-enrolment in pension schemes, which will address the pension apartheid that has existed in this country for many years and about which I am sure the Deputy feels strongly. We have taken a number of actions to help support workers, including with regard to remote working, to try to support a work-life balance.

We must also listen to people who run businesses, however. The Deputy and I were both in Munster in recent weeks during the election campaign, visiting café's, restaurants and small shops. The owners of such businesses have pointed out that the pace at which charges and costs have come at them has had a real impact. Nobody in government or in opposition wants to do anything that would in any way hinder the ability of somebody to provide employment in towns and villages. We will continue to support workers and small and medium enterprises. I do not buy into the idea that it is one or the other. It is about taking a balanced approach and the pace at which we do it.

The sub-minimum wage is currently a percentage of the overall minimum wage. As the minimum wage has increased, so too has the sub-minimum wage. The minimum wage rose by approximately 12% on the most recent occasion, which was significantly above the rate of inflation. That would have had a knock-on benefit for people on all forms of the minimum wage. The Government remains committed to the introduction of the living wage. This is a question of balance, the pace at which new costs come and how the Government can best support businesses that, as the Deputy knows, are under real pressure. I am talking about small and medium businesses, including those owned by people I have met in the Deputy's constituency and who have said to me that we need to be cautious about the pace at which new charges are put on businesses.

We will consider the report. I welcome its publication. We will carry out an economic impact assessment and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will then bring proposals to Cabinet.

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