Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I am responding to the point the Minister of State made which is fundamental to this debate. Much of the commentary I have heard from Government backbench Deputies and members of the Government has been unfortunate. The exception has been the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, who stands out because he has stated exactly what needs to be done and appears to have the courage to follow through on it. If the Government does not show backbone, we will have serious difficulties.

It is erroneous of the Minister of State to assume that increasing the minimum wage or taking €1.8 billion from private pension funds will in some way assist the objectives of the Bill. On the contrary, the proposed measures will be highly counterproductive. How can we have a minimum wage which is between 40% and 50% higher than the rates set in much stronger economies such as Germany, France and Britain?