Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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154. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the status of the implementation of Action 1.14 of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 to increase the minimum wage to €10.50 per hour over the next five years, relying on the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission on the level of adjustment each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36378/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In January 2017, the Government increased the level of the National Minimum Wage to €9.25 an hour.

Since the publication of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 in April 2017 the Low Pay Commission has made a number of recommendations to increase the national minimum wage.

These recommendations have always been accepted and implemented by the Government. The current national minimum wage is €10.10 per hour. The Low Pay Commission recently recommended a 10c increase in the minimum wage. This will bring the national minimum wage to €10.20 per hour from January 2021.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government. Consideration is now being given to how best to progress this initiative.

The Programme for Government recognises the importance of the Low Pay Commission in ensuring that those who are in low-paid employment are valued. While the living wage initiative is being considered, the Government will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission with regard to any future changes in the minimum wage.

The Government, and the Low Pay Commission, will remain mindful of the aims and objectives of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-20 when considering future changes to the national minimum wage.