Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said Tánaiste Mary Coughlan had “hedged her bets’’ on a possible reduction in the minimum wage during Dáil exchanges this afternoon.
Mr Gilmore said that over the weekend there were reports of Government plans to provide for an inability to pay provision in respect of some category of workers covered by legally enforceable minimum rates of pay.
“There have been repeated reports that it is intended to cut the national minimum wage,’’ he added.
Ms Coughlan said it was important to have clarity on the matter.
“The minimum wage, and any changes to the minimum wage, will be done, if any, in the context of proposals from the Labour Court,’’ she added.
“They are currently with the court, and I am not in a position to make any adjudication until such time as that comes to my desk.’’
Mr Gilmore said that, as he understood it, the issue had been with the Labour Court since November 2008.
“We do not seem to be any further advanced on it,’’ he added.
He called on the Government to “come off the fence’’ on the issue, and gave a “categorical and fair assurance’’ that it would not be cut.
Meanwhile, Ms Coughlan said that the Government would consider having a Dáil debate on the North if there was a satisfactory outcome to the current talks.
She was replying to Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore, who promised their support for the talks and sought a debate.