David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

No. I regret the Minister of State is not able to support the amendment. I do not wish to make the point again. This is an issue I would have argued over a long period with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation during debates on various Bills. The view is that wages are seen as simply a cost to the economy and not as a driver. We need to take a different view. I know it is a Fine Gael view but I would hope it is not a view shared by the Labour Party that competitiveness is all on the basis of driving down the pay and conditions of workers and seeing wages as an impediment to a thriving economy.In fact, all the evidence points to the contrary: those countries in Europe which have good wages, decent work and decent pay are actually better-performing economies than our economy. Some other countries engage in a race to the bottom and view wages solely from the prism of competitiveness and not as a driver of the economy - if people have money in their pockets they can spend and it is a positive rather than a negative. It is nonsensical that the court would have to consider the potential impact of a recommendation on competitiveness to the economy but not be asked to look at the opposite side or the other side of the economy.

To be honest, this is an ideological mindset, probably coming from the other side of Government. It seems they will not accept this amendment. I am disappointed. In light of the criticisms I had of the Low Pay Commission and this legislation there does not seem to be enough of a focus from this Government on the impact of low pay, short-term contracts and hours and precariousness of the economy as well as the policy decisions which flow as a result. Here is an opportunity for the Government to allow the courts to reflect and be mindful of those issues as well. I am disappointed with the response of the Minister of State. It seems to suggest he will not be accepting the amendment.