8. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the interactions he or his Department have had with the owner of a business (details supplied) since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21247/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

The last couple of weeks have seen the Minister abandon a series of promises to workers. He abandoned the promises to extend sick leave and introduce a living wage. Incredibly, he is refusing to scrap sub-minimum wages. People watching this performance might ask if the Minister is following the lead of the most anti-trade union boss in Ireland, Michael O'Leary, who launched the Minister's election campaign last November. Has the Minister had any more meetings with Mr. O'Leary since he took office? How has his relationship with the latter influenced the Minister's decisions?

Sentiment score: -0.15

At the Minister's campaign launch, Michael O'Leary stated: We need a government that delivers for enterprise ... it’s vital that we elect a government that gets shit done ... I can think of nobody here, certainly in the current government, who demonstrates more action, more energy ... than Peter Burke. That is more action and more energy for enterprise. Is that why the Minister is doing what he is doing? Is he following the lead of Michael O'Leary, an anti-trade union and anti-worker boss, in reneging on previous commitments to extend sick leave, introduce a living wage and honour the vote of the previous Dáil to abolish sub-minimum wage rates and the legalised discrimination against and super-exploitation of young workers which allows them to be paid even less than the minimum wage? The Minister talks about employment rights and says he is in favour of them. His actions demonstrate the opposite. The fact that he had the most famously anti-worker, anti-union boss in the country launch his election campaign suggests that opposite is the case.

Sentiment score: 0.17

Delayed.

Sentiment score: -0.23

Saying that is a fact does not make it a fact. The Government has been in power for three or four months. It has not progressed workers' rights at all. It has taken a series of negative steps and reneged on the commitments to extend sick leave and establish a living wage and on the vote of the previous Dáil to abolish sub-minimum wages. I will focus on the latter. The Dáil voted two years ago to abolish sub-minimum wages. There was then a delay of a year because the Low Pay Commission was charged with looking at the matter. The commission looked at and unanimously recommended the abolition of sub-minimum wages. The Government then wanted to kick the can down the road again and said that an economic impact assessment was needed. I got a reply from the Minister two days ago to a parliamentary question in which I asked how this was progressing. He indicated that it is due to be finalised in June or July, but he has already made the decision. In advance of the economic impact assessment, he is also going to suspend the decision on that. I presume that is for three years. I am referring here to a legalised situation whereby young people are paid less than the minimum wage. That is scandalous, and the Minister has the cheek to say that it is a fact that he is working for workers' rights.

Sentiment score: -0.14

That is a delay.

Sentiment score: -0.32

No, it is not.

Sentiment score: -0.30

It is not-----

Sentiment score: 0.00

In 2029.

Sentiment score: 0.00