Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I extend a céad míle fáilte to Professor Pissarides. It is great to be in such illustrious company. As time is short, I will come straight to the point.

Professor Pissarides mentioned that the minimum wage is a deterrent to employment. In my view one is never better off unemployed than employed. If a decent minimum wage is not on offer then we will be unable to encourage people to go back into employment. I ask for his views on the rates of pay in this country. The knock-on effect of youth unemployment is far-reaching. In my part of the country we have a great tradition of Gaelic football. I note that our football clubs are being forced to amalgamate because there are not enough players as the young people are emigrating. The effect on communities is significant. I am the mother of a young person who is in employment and who is about to buy a house. However, such people are in fear of losing their job of being caught up in negative equity or being unable to repay a mortgage.