Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

That was a cheap political broadcast.

On the matter of housing and the homeless crisis, it is clear that much work has been done. While there is a long way to go, a plan is being put in place. Like everything that is complicated, it is not simply a matter of finding everybody who does not have a home and saying, "Here, there's a home." Everybody who tries to reduce it to such a simplistic argument is merely insulting not only the people who are trying to solve the crisis but also those people who are homeless. Unfortunately, it takes longer than it appears on paper. This week the Minister, Deputy Kelly, has suggested that if any of the religious with properties that are currently empty want to offer those properties for use on a temporary basis, he and his departmental officials will do everything in their power to assist that use.It seems at least to be a practical suggestion for some of those who are homeless, although it should only be seen as a stop-gap measure.

I welcome today's announcement by the supermarket Lidl, which has joined the campaign for the living wage. This is the kind of campaign that can be a real game changer for the way in which we treat our workers. People need not just enough money to get from A to B, but enough to live. The living wage is an independently approved sum standing currently at €11.50 per hour. It is fair to say that Lidl already pays many of its own employees above that amount but it is now committing that everybody will get it at the very least.

This was one of things the Government pledged. The Labour Party particularly wished to see it being brought forward under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Nash. We are not just a country to do business in but a good country in which to live. Even with all the stresses and strains, it is time to say that people matter most. If we can find a way to encourage others to join the living wage campaign, we will have done something very significant for many who are still earning the minimum wage. We can talk about wage cuts and the top earners, yet there are more people earning at the minimum wage than we realise. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Nash, on his work, thank Lidl for joining and hope others will join too.