Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will get into all kinds of complexities if I accept the amendment. As we know, new recruits are often taken on at different rates of pay from existing recruits. The issue of setting out the comparator is a very complex procedure. In addition, we are providing retrospective action so that employers who engaged in such practices in the past will have to pay. We have to use a statutory payment because it clearly does not add some penalty element but recovers compensation that ought to have been paid based on a statutory minimum. The approach we are taking is robust and is the fairest in the circumstances.