David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the planned increase in the minimum wage, which I suppose was leaked. It is not confirmed yet but we hear the Low Pay Commission, set up recently - we had lengthy debates in this House on that Bill - will recommend a 50 cent an hour increase in the minimum wage. It is interesting that the proposal has had a mixed reaction. Business groups say, wrongly in my view, this will set the country back economically and have completely overreacted to the proposal. The trade unions say it does not go far enough and I tend to be on their side. It is interesting that this morning, IKEA has said not only will it pay the increase in the minimum wage but it will, from next week onwards, pay a living wage to all its employees.