O’Dea: FF made mistake in cutting minimum wage

FIANNA Fáil TD Willie O’Dea has said his own party made a “serious mistake” in cutting the minimum wage — but neglected to mention he voted for the cut.

Mr O’Dea helped the Fianna Fáil-Green coalition to cuts the minimum wage by €1 to €7.65 an hour last December when he voted in favour of the measure.

The reduction hit the country’s poorest-paid workers, but Fianna Fáil staunchly defended the cut at the time, saying it was necessary to improve Ireland’s competitiveness.