Senator Jerry Buttimer Senator Jerry Buttimer
  • Home
    • About Jerry
    • Jerry’s Career
  • News
    • Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • Children and Youth Affairs
    • Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
    • Cork
    • Defence
    • Environment, Community and Local Government
    • Finance & Public Expenditure
    • Education and Skills
    • Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Health
    • Justice and Equality
    • Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
    • Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • Social Protection
  • National Issues
    • Creating Jobs
    • Health Policy
    • Tourism
    • Equality and Social Justice
    • Crime and Justice
  • Local Issues
    • Investing in Cork
    • New Cork Hospital
    • Cork Airport
    • Merger of Cork City and County
  • In the Dáil
    • Committee Work
    • Debates
    • Parliamentary Questions
  • Contact
  • Covid 19 – Resource Artwork & Information

Buttimer calls for fairness in relation to Minimum Wage

Home / News / Buttimer calls for fairness in relation to Minimum Wage
7th February 201122nd January 2016
By admin_exsiteIn News
0

Speaking following the cutting of the minimum wage Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer said the issue of the cut in minimum wage must be reversed.

“The lowest paid people in society are facing severe hardship because of the €1 cut in the hourly rate of the minimum wage, and the imposition of an unfair Universal Social Charge. We must protect the vulnerable members of society.”

“I have been talking to businesses in Cork City and they advise me that their business is not struggling because of the national minimum wage, but because consumer confidence is low and people are not spending. In addition to this credit for small businesses is being frozen by the banks, issues around employers PRSI – which Fine Gael have made proposals about, and VAT on labour intenstive activities. None of the above issues facing our small businesses is that of the minimum wage. Why then was it cut?

“How can the Government expect someone to live on low incomes? This Government has consistently told us they are acting in the national interest, how is it the national interest to cut cut cut? Before the budget the Taoiseach’s own salary was 13 times that of a person on the minimum wage, it is now 14 times the amount.

“Fine Gael’s policy of reducing PRSI acts as a similar yet fairer initiative to reduce the cost of doing business. This Government, by cutting the minimum wage, has done nothing more than de-incentivise people from working. It will now be more amenable to go on social welfare then to get a minimum wage job, jobs which are often some of the toughest jobs with the longest hours.

“This Government and those in FF new or old are in a bubble, they have lost sight of what it is like to struggle to make ends meet, what it is like to not be able to put dinner on the table”

The Electorate not Deputy Martin will choose the next GovernmentButtimer criticises Government’s failure to respond to Sarkozy over corporation tax remarks.

Campaign

  • About Jerry
  • National Issues
  • Local Issues
  • News
  • Jerry's Facebook
Politics © 2015 | All Rights Reserved | Powered by exSite