Block on bid to protect workers from minimum wage cut

A LAST-DITCH attempt to protect existing workers from the €1 an hour cut to the minimum wage was successfully blocked by the Government.

This was despite disaffected Fianna Fáil backbencher Mattie McGrath voting against his colleagues after claiming he was duped by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan on attempts to reverse the social welfare cuts.

Mr McGrath admitted he could be regarded as being “all over the place” but said he was an “honest broker” on the deal, which reduced the level of protection for all workers.