MINIMUM WAGE: FG/Labour Government pressed by Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams to reverse cut

Gerry Adams: 'Reverse the minimum wage cut now'

THE Fine Gael/Labour Government should stop stalling on its pre-election promise to reverse the minimum wage cut imposed by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, Sinn Féin President and Louth TD Gerry Adams has said in the Dáil.

Responding to questioning in the Dáil by Gerry Adams, who cited the case of the Davenport Hotel workers who had their wages arbitrarily cut, the Taoiseach said any move on the minimum wage would need the approval of the EU and IMF.

Sinn Féin is demanding that the Government stands up to the EU/IMF and honour its pledge to voters and particularly low-paid workers

Gerry Adams said:

The commitment to reverse the cut to the minimum wage was a key promise in Fine Gael’s election campaign.

In the Dáil, I raised the example of the five workers in the Davenport Hotel who had their wages lowered without their consent. The ensuing dispute went to the Labour Court, which found in favour of the workers.

This happened because the previous Government cut the minimum wage, which sent the signal to employers that they could do what they wanted on wages.

When Gerry Adams  asked the Taoiseach when the minimum wage will be put back to what it should be, Enda Kenny replied:

This is a matter that is not merely budgetary. It may well require legislation and will require the approval under the programme of the IMF-EU deal and I cannot give the deputy an exact date as to when the implementation of the reverse can become a reality. Those are the parameters of the situation.

The Sinn Féin leader described this situation as “outrageous and unacceptable”, adding:

It is an admission by the Taoiseach that the Fine Gael/Labour Government is bound by EU/IMF diktat regardless of the consequences to low-paid workers in Ireland.

The minimum wage must be restored to its previous level and the Government must make it clear to employers that they cannot behave as the Davenport Hotel did and that workers’ rights will be protected.