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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 Oct 2019

Vol. 988 No. 2

Living Wage: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

The following motion was moved by Deputy Quinlivan on Tuesday, 15 October 2019:
That Dáil Éireann:
notes that:
— according to the Central Statistics Office, 137,200 workers reported earning the national minimum wage or less in the fourth quarter of 2018;
— female workers are currently more likely than male workers to earn the national minimum wage or less;
— half of all those earning the national minimum wage or less in the fourth quarter of 2018 were aged 24 years or under;
— according to Social Justice Ireland, 110,000 workers are living at risk of poverty across the State;
— the current living wage stands at €12.30 per hour, as calculated by the Living Wage Technical Group;
— according to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the ‘no-deal Brexit caveat’ contained in the Low Pay Commission’s report makes absolutely no reference whatsoever to a possible deferral of the recommended increase in the national minimum wage in the event of a no-deal Brexit;
— there are legal protections currently in place for those companies who can show they cannot afford to pay the national minimum wage; and
— there is no legal obligation on businesses who can afford to pay their workers a living wage to do so;
condemns the Government’s recent decision not to increase the national minimum wage;
agrees that:
— the decision by the Government not to increase the national minimum wage or introduce a living wage will place further financial pressure on thousands of workers and families who need a break;
— work must pay now and not just at some undetermined time in the future;
— proper wages and the eradication of precarious working practices should be the essential foundations of economic growth and productivity; and
— the implementation of a living wage would play a critical role in ending in-work poverty and reducing the financial pressure on many households; and
calls on the Government to:
— recognise the huge contribution low paid workers make to the Irish economy;
— immediately reverse its decision not to increase the national minimum wage; and
— introduce a living wage of €12.30 per hour in 2020, with appropriate legal protections for those small- or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who can show they cannot afford to pay the living wage.
Debate resumed on amendment No. 4:
To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann:” and substitute the following:
“recognises that:
—for 2020, the Low Pay Commission made its recommendations on the basis of currenteconomic data and the assumption of an orderly transition for the exit of the UnitedKingdom from the European Union, and recommended that the rate of the national minimum wage for an experienced adult worker be fixed at a rate of €10.10 per hour;
—the Commission made its recommendations on the basis of an orderly Brexit andacknowledged that the Government may wish to review this recommendation in theevent of a disorderly Brexit; and
—the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Commission in theirentirety, however, given that the terms of Brexit are not yet finalised, the Governmenthas decided that a decision on the date of implementation will be made when the outcome of the Brexit negotiations becomes clearer.”
- (Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection)

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the living wage. On Tuesday, 15 October 2019, on the question that the amendment to the motion be agreed to, a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 70(2), that division must be taken now.

Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 36; Níl, 67; Staon, 1.

  • Bailey, Maria.
  • Barrett, Seán.
  • Breen, Pat.
  • Brophy, Colm.
  • Bruton, Richard.
  • Burke, Peter.
  • Canney, Seán.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • D'Arcy, Michael.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deasy, John.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Doyle, Andrew.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Madigan, Josepha.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
  • Moran, Kevin Boxer.
  • Neville, Tom.
  • Noonan, Michael.
  • O'Connell, Kate.
  • O'Donovan, Patrick.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Rock, Noel.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Zappone, Katherine.

Níl

  • Aylward, Bobby.
  • Barry, Mick.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Brady, John.
  • Brassil, John.
  • Breathnach, Declan.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Buckley, Pat.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Cassells, Shane.
  • Chambers, Jack.
  • Chambers, Lisa.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Connolly, Catherine.
  • Coppinger, Ruth.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Cullinane, David.
  • Curran, John.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Donnelly, Stephen.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • Fitzmaurice, Michael.
  • Fitzpatrick, Peter.
  • Fleming, Sean.
  • Funchion, Kathleen.
  • Harty, Michael.
  • Haughey, Seán.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Kenny, Martin.
  • Lahart, John.
  • Lowry, Michael.
  • MacSharry, Marc.
  • Martin, Catherine.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McGrath, Michael.
  • McGuinness, John.
  • Mitchell, Denise.
  • Munster, Imelda.
  • Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Murphy, Eugene.
  • Murphy, Paul.
  • Nolan, Carol.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • O'Keeffe, Kevin.
  • O'Loughlin, Fiona.
  • O'Reilly, Louise.
  • O'Rourke, Frank.
  • O'Sullivan, Jan.
  • Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • Penrose, Willie.
  • Quinlivan, Maurice.
  • Rabbitte, Anne.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Scanlon, Eamon.
  • Sherlock, Sean.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Smith, Bríd.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.

Staon

  • McGrath, Mattie.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Seán Kyne and Peter Burke; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Denise Mitchell.
Amendment declared lost.

I move amendment No. 2:

To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann:” and substitute the following:

“notes:

— the valuable contribution that workers make to Irish society;

— the commencement of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 in March 2019, which restricts the use of zero-hour contracts;

— micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently employ over one million people in Ireland, according to the Central Statistics Office;

— that the cost of employer liability insurance and public liability insurance is a direct threat to the competitiveness and sustainability of many businesses throughout the country, including SMEs;

— the failure of the Government to tackle the high cost of living in Ireland, in particular, in the areas of housing and childcare; and

— that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average for childcare costs represents about 12.6 per cent of net family income, whereas in Ireland the figure stands at about 27.4 per cent; and

calls on the Government:

— as the largest employer in the country, to act as a role model in terms of implementing the living wage in the public sector, which will set a broader standard without placing an undue legislative burden upon employers struggling to keep down costs;

— to refer the question of the living wage to the Low Pay Commission;

— to tackle the high cost of living in Ireland, including housing, childcare, insurance and public transport;

— to accelerate the roll-out of the affordable purchase scheme for housing;

— to establish a national affordable rent scheme; and

— to tackle the high cost of insurance which is crippling businesses and progress the Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2019.”

Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 30; Níl, 73; Staon, 1.

  • Aylward, Bobby.
  • Brassil, John.
  • Breathnach, Declan.
  • Cassells, Shane.
  • Chambers, Jack.
  • Chambers, Lisa.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Curran, John.
  • Donnelly, Stephen.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Fleming, Sean.
  • Gallagher, Pat The Cope.
  • Harty, Michael.
  • Haughey, Seán.
  • Lahart, John.
  • MacSharry, Marc.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McGrath, Michael.
  • McGuinness, John.
  • Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
  • Murphy, Eugene.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • O'Keeffe, Kevin.
  • O'Loughlin, Fiona.
  • O'Rourke, Frank.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Rabbitte, Anne.
  • Scanlon, Eamon.
  • Smith, Brendan.

Níl

  • Bailey, Maria.
  • Barrett, Seán.
  • Barry, Mick.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Brady, John.
  • Brophy, Colm.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Bruton, Richard.
  • Buckley, Pat.
  • Burke, Peter.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Canney, Seán.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Connolly, Catherine.
  • Coppinger, Ruth.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Cullinane, David.
  • D'Arcy, Michael.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deasy, John.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Doyle, Andrew.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Fitzmaurice, Michael.
  • Fitzpatrick, Peter.
  • Funchion, Kathleen.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Kenny, Gino.
  • Kenny, Martin.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Lowry, Michael.
  • Madigan, Josepha.
  • Martin, Catherine.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
  • Mitchell, Denise.
  • Munster, Imelda.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Murphy, Paul.
  • Neville, Tom.
  • Nolan, Carol.
  • Noonan, Michael.
  • O'Connell, Kate.
  • O'Donovan, Patrick.
  • O'Reilly, Louise.
  • O'Sullivan, Jan.
  • Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • Penrose, Willie.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Quinlivan, Maurice.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Rock, Noel.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Sherlock, Sean.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Smith, Bríd.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.
  • Zappone, Katherine.

Staon

  • McGrath, Mattie.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies John Curran and John Lahart; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Denise Mitchell.
Amendment declared lost.

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after “not to increase the national minimum wage; and” and substitute the following:

“— instruct the Low Pay Commission to ensure that the national minimum wage becomes a genuine living wage from 2020 onwards, with appropriate legal protections for small- or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who can show they cannot afford to pay the living wage.”

Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 16; Níl, 85; Staon, 1.

  • Barry, Mick.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Connolly, Catherine.
  • Coppinger, Ruth.
  • Kenny, Gino.
  • Martin, Catherine.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Murphy, Paul.
  • O'Sullivan, Jan.
  • Penrose, Willie.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Sherlock, Sean.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Smith, Bríd.

Níl

  • Aylward, Bobby.
  • Bailey, Maria.
  • Barrett, Seán.
  • Brady, John.
  • Brassil, John.
  • Brophy, Colm.
  • Bruton, Richard.
  • Buckley, Pat.
  • Burke, Peter.
  • Calleary, Dara.
  • Canney, Seán.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Casey, Pat.
  • Cassells, Shane.
  • Chambers, Jack.
  • Chambers, Lisa.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Cullinane, David.
  • Curran, John.
  • D'Arcy, Michael.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deasy, John.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Donnelly, Stephen.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Doyle, Andrew.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Fitzmaurice, Michael.
  • Fitzpatrick, Peter.
  • Fleming, Sean.
  • Funchion, Kathleen.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Harty, Michael.
  • Haughey, Seán.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Kenny, Martin.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Lahart, John.
  • Lowry, Michael.
  • Madigan, Josepha.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McGrath, Michael.
  • McGuinness, John.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
  • Mitchell, Denise.
  • Munster, Imelda.
  • Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
  • Murphy, Eugene.
  • Neville, Tom.
  • Noonan, Michael.
  • O'Connell, Kate.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • O'Donovan, Patrick.
  • O'Keeffe, Kevin.
  • O'Loughlin, Fiona.
  • O'Reilly, Louise.
  • O'Rourke, Frank.
  • Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Quinlivan, Maurice.
  • Rabbitte, Anne.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Rock, Noel.
  • Scanlon, Eamon.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.
  • Zappone, Katherine.

Staon

  • McGrath, Mattie.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Brendan Ryan and Jan O'Sullivan; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Denise Mitchell.
Amendment declared lost.

I move amendment No. 3:

To delete all words after “not to increase the national minimum wage; and” and substitute the following:

“—introduce a minimum wage of €12.30 per hour in 2020 as a step towards €15 per hour.”

Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 18; Níl, 81; Staon, 0.

  • Barry, Mick.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Connolly, Catherine.
  • Coppinger, Ruth.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Kenny, Gino.
  • Martin, Catherine.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Murphy, Paul.
  • O'Sullivan, Jan.
  • Penrose, Willie.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Sherlock, Sean.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Smith, Bríd.

Níl

  • Aylward, Bobby.
  • Bailey, Maria.
  • Barrett, Seán.
  • Brady, John.
  • Brassil, John.
  • Brophy, Colm.
  • Bruton, Richard.
  • Buckley, Pat.
  • Burke, Peter.
  • Calleary, Dara.
  • Canney, Seán.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Casey, Pat.
  • Cassells, Shane.
  • Chambers, Jack.
  • Chambers, Lisa.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Cullinane, David.
  • Curran, John.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deasy, John.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Donnelly, Stephen.
  • Doyle, Andrew.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Fitzmaurice, Michael.
  • Fitzpatrick, Peter.
  • Fleming, Sean.
  • Funchion, Kathleen.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Harty, Michael.
  • Haughey, Seán.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Kenny, Martin.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Lahart, John.
  • Lowry, Michael.
  • Madigan, Josepha.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McGrath, Mattie.
  • McGrath, Michael.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
  • Mitchell, Denise.
  • Munster, Imelda.
  • Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
  • Murphy, Eugene.
  • Neville, Tom.
  • Noonan, Michael.
  • O'Connell, Kate.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • O'Donovan, Patrick.
  • O'Keeffe, Kevin.
  • O'Loughlin, Fiona.
  • O'Reilly, Louise.
  • O'Rourke, Frank.
  • Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Quinlivan, Maurice.
  • Rabbitte, Anne.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Rock, Noel.
  • Scanlon, Eamon.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.
  • Zappone, Katherine.

Staon

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mick Barry and Ruth Coppinger; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Denise Mitchell.
Amendment declared lost.
Motion agreed to.
Barr
Roinn