Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The conversation has strayed quite widely. The Minister of State referred to the family income supplement, which is now called the working family payment. People are very aware of that payment because they are all struggling to make ends meet and people rely on it. It is an indictment if people are not earning enough for their families to live on. That is an issue. I support the payment because I realise that people need it. It is not a wonderful add-on, but is something people need.

The Minister of State mentioned sectoral agreements. I would be delighted if all sectors had sectoral agreements but, unfortunately, that is not the case. Measures to push forward a sectoral agreement in the hospitality sector, which employs a high number of people, many of whom rely on the working family payment, were opposed only a week ago. Sectoral agreements would be an ideal way to move this forward, but a number of employers and employment representative organisations have opposed them. That is just a point of information, on which I do not need to elaborate.