Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sure all colleagues will join with me in expressing sympathy to those who were bereaved, traumatised or injured after the siege in the cafe in Sydney, which was finally ended in a tragic manner last night.

I welcome the fact that the Cabinet will be discussing the referendum on marriage equality to be held in 2015. It is not yet clear whether a date will be announced following today's meeting, but it is very welcome to hear it is on the agenda. We all await the announcement of the date of the referendum next year as well as an announcement of the other issues that will be put to the people in a referendum on the same date. I ask the Leader for a debate on the other matters that are likely to be voted on around the same time as marriage equality, such as the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention on the age of voting, which it recommended would be reduced to 16 years, and on the proposed removal of the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution, which the convention also recommended should be put to the people.

Could I also ask for a debate on the recommendations of the low pay commission after it has given its advice to the Government? I welcome the announcement this week by the Minister of State with responsibility for business and employment, Deputy Nash, that a low pay commission is to be established. He has called on interested parties to apply for membership of the new commission. The low pay commission is hugely important because it will enable an evidence-based assessment of appropriate levels of the national minimum wage to be undertaken for the first time. It will advise the Government generally on low pay issues. I understand these positions are being advertised on the State boards website, with a closing date of 12 January 2015. It would be good to see a healthy level of applications for the membership of that commission. I welcome the establishment of the commission. I hope we will have an opportunity to debate its recommendations in the House after it has produced its report.