Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 648: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the European Trade Union Confederation's warning to the European Central Bank to stop its crusade against fair wages, following a statement made by bank president Jean-Claude Trichet in January 2008; when he referred to minimum wages as unnecessary. [1737/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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This country's involvement in the European Central Bank is through the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority which is under the aegis of the Minister for Finance.

From the Government's perspective, legislation to provide for a national minimum wage in this country was enacted in 2000. The minimum wage was introduced as a social policy commitment of the Government in the context of tackling exclusion, marginalisation and poverty with the specific aim of protecting vulnerable workers who are vulnerable to exploitation. The minimum wage was first set at £4.40 per hour from 1 April 2000 and has been increased on six occasions since then; most recently on 1 July 2007 when the rate was set at €8.65 per hour.

Minimum rates of pay in certain sectors and individual enterprises are also governed by Employment Regulation Orders and Registered Employment Agreements. The Government remains committed to these measures.