Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Minister of State is standing in for a colleague, but that is a particularly disappointing response. I am aware of the statutory framework. The fact of the matter is that the employer bodies have refused to engage with it. That begs a question to which no-one has been able to give me an answer. If someone works in the hospitality sector, how does he or she get a pay rise? I have not heard anyone explain that to me. Deputy Mitchell O'Connor will be the third Minister I have asked. I have had no response whatsoever. I have reeled off statistics to show the appalling rates of pay. These are Government statistics. This is not a handful of hotels, but a statistical representation of the sector. There are appalling rates of pay, appalling terms and conditions and precarious work, but the members of the Government appear to be sitting with their arms folded, saying it is nothing to do with them. That is not good enough.