David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The problem is that the legislation only allows for the compensation awarded to be calculated based on the national minimum wage or on other minimum rates pursuant to the statute, which in this case means a registered employment agreement.

The Minister has argued before that no worker in the State has a statutory guarantee to payment above these rates, and he is right. However, the rate provided in a lawful contract will be recoverable. What happens in a company if somebody is paid higher than the minimum wage for comparable work? What happens if people earn higher rates of pay in a company that has exploited a migrant worker? Will people be encouraged to come forward if they are only entitled to the minimum rate of compensation? Our amendment is reasonable and should be accepted, and we will press it.