Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

I have a slight difficulty with wages being negotiated between the students themselves and the employer. The State must have a role to play in the negotiations between apprentices and employers in terms of how wages are set. While it is the case that employers are not taking on a fully qualified person but someone who is moving into the trade, it is important that apprentices get a fair wage. I do not believe that €7.41 is a fair wage to start off on, especially in the context of running a car, renting a room in a house, buying groceries and so on.

I welcome the improvements to which the Minister referred and the Labour Party will work with him on this.

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