John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will endeavour to get the Minister to respond directly on the issue of deferral or otherwise.Senator Nash was part of a Government of which I was a member that reversed the decision of the previous Government to reduce the national minimum wage by €1. The Low Pay Commission was established and has resulted in a 13% increase of the minimum wage in the past four years. The Senator's final comments do not stand up to any scrutiny but I agree that there is an issue and I will endeavour to get the Minister to address it directly with him.