Union says Ireland 'needs a pay rise'

The UNITE union has said that Ireland needs to be aiming for a sustainable wage led economic recovery.

The trade union is hosting a seminar in Dublin this morning entitled 'Ireland Needs A Pay Rise'.

Figures published last week show one in 5 people are not earning enough money to sustain a basic standard of living.

UNITE defined the "living weekly wage" as €446 or €11.45 per hour.

Irish secretary Jimmy Kelly says the number of people considered "working poor" is growing and the only credible solution is an increase in wages.