Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Finance in the view of the statement by the Taoiseach last Wednesday that reversing the cut to the national minimum wage is contingent on approval by the IMF-EU because it is in the memorandum of understanding, if that also means that the current Government will have to increase the qualifying age to 66 years in line with the Memorandum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7007/11]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the statement by the Taoiseach last Wednesday that reversing the cut to the national minimum wage will require approval by the International Monetary Fund and the EU, if that means that all commitments in the programme for Government can be over ridden by the terms of the memorandum of understanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6972/11]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Finance in line with the clause on page 13 of the memorandum of understanding with the EU-IMF which states, under the period of this financial assistance programme, any additional unplanned revenues must be allocated to debt reduction, that the proceeds from the planned sale of €2 billion of State assets would mean that the proceeds from that would have to go to pay the debt, rather than as planned to fund a job creation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7062/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55 and 58 together.

Under the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support, Ireland has agreed to deliver a wide range of actions and conditions including those referred to by the Deputy in his questions. Furthermore, Ireland has committed to consult with the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF on the adoption of policies that are not consistent with the EU/IMF Programme.

From my dealings to date, I understand the Programme partners are open to changes in the actions and conditions set out in the EU/IMF Programme provided any such changes are accompanied by compensatory measures of equal value or effect. The primary forum for such consultation is the quarterly review missions with the Programme partners, the first of which is taking place this week and next, between the 5th and 15th of April 2011. This review, and subsequent reviews, provide an opportunity to consult with the Programme partners on the various competitiveness measures set out in the Memorandum of Understanding and Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, including in relation to the national minimum wage and the review of sectoral wage agreements which is being undertaken, along with the Governments planned Jobs Fund Initiative.

The increase in the qualifying age for the State pension to 66 years is an entirely different issue from the national minimum wage. The Government's policy on that issue has been clearly outlined by my colleague the Minister for Social Protection in response to a PQ from Deputy Brian Stanley on Wednesday 30th of March 2011.

Finally as regards the issue of additional unplanned revenues, the position is that Ireland has a very significant fiscal deficit that must be closed so as to bring sustainability to the public finances, thus underpinning growth. In this context we must be conscious of the high debt level that we now have and take the necessary steps to control and reduce this mounting debt burden.