Rise in minimum wage in budget not ruled out

Increasing the minimum wage in the budget has not been ruled out by Minister of State for Employment and Small Business. It comes after Independent Alliance Ministers suggested that the minimum wage be increased to €10.

Over the weekend, ministers Finian McGrath and John Halligan called for an increase of 85c to the minimum wage.

The calls are likely to cause divisions in government especially after the Low Pay Commission had recommended the national minimum wage be increased by 10c in their report published earlier this month.