David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government can do things to support those companies in the budget. However, very profitable companies can and should be paying better wages. We know who they are. Many of them are making very big profits in this country and they should be paying a living wage and, where they can, they should be supported and encouraged to do so. For me, it reinforces the need for the Low Pay Commission to be a living wage commission and to look at all those issues.

In reality, I do not think we should be looking at this issue solely through the prism of pay increases. For many low paid workers, pay increases are part of the solution but what they need is access to good quality public services. For many people in low pay jobs the lack of wages is one issue but the fact they cannot depend on our public services, be those housing support, health or education services, because of rising costs impacts on them. That is the flaw in the logic of the Low Pay Commission. It is important for us to have a debate on this issue of low pay when we come back after the summer recess. I commend IKEA, something I would not have seen myself doing last week. It has, however, made that move.

I support the words of the Fianna Fáil group leader as well on the private health insurance company which has behaved despicably. I will lend my support and the support of Sinn Féin to any motion he wishes to table in this regard.