Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and commend her for being here.

We can talk about ideology and adversarial politics, but this is a debate we need to have. I am very happy that the Government will not oppose the Bill at this Stage. I commend Senator Gavan for putting a lot of work into the Bill. He mentioned Senator Ó Clochartaigh and other Members in his remarks.

I wish to begin on a discordant note. I refer to the remarks of Senator Higgins. She should understand that the previous Government and this one increased the minimum wage and took more people out of the tax net than any other Government in the history of the State. She consistently comes in here and berates this Government and the previous one. She should look at the facts. We increased the minimum wage, took more people out of the tax net and gave people a chance.

Senator Gavan knows my ideology in terms of low pay and workers. I want to ensure that the rights of workers are protected. The opening lines of the speech from the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, were about decent pay for decent work. Senator Higgins should not come into the House and consistently berate the Government and say it did not do anything because it did. A significant number of people have been brought out of poverty. Senator Higgins should be consistent in her approach to politics. New politics is not about giving out about the Government. Rather, it is about trying to bring pay-----