Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for attending the House to debate this issue and I congratulate him on his new appointment. A change from a social Ministry like the Department of Health and Children to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is an interesting one. I went a similar route when, as a Minister of State, I moved from the Department of Health to the Department of Industry and Commerce with special responsibility for trade and marketing. The Department is an exciting one in which to work with an excellent and innovative staff who have great knowledge of the field. The Minister, Deputy Martin, will bring great innovation to his portfolio.

The Minister has an enormous responsibility, including consumer protection. In this regard the issue of costs is important. I criticise the rip-off mentality as projected by the main Opposition party. It puts forward the problems but not the solutions. Ireland has the highest minimum wage in the world at €1,183 per month. This compares to Japan at €906 per month, the US at €877 per month, Greece at €570 per month, Malta at €535 per month, Spain at €451 per month, Portugal at €365 per month, Hungary at €252 per month and Bulgaria at €56 per month. Is the Fine Gael Party advocating a reduction in the minimum wage? If a high minimum wage is necessary for our people — some of them are earning it in the supermarkets that Senator Coghlan criticised for high prices — then it follows there are higher prices. What solution is being put forward by the main Opposition party?

The Fine Gael Party claims its rip-off website had 50,000 hits. However, as the website is accessible internationally, it has discouraged people from coming to Ireland by highlighting prices externally. While I have no problems arguing the case within our economy, why is Fine Gael trying to jeopardise employment and tourism by discouraging people from visiting Ireland?