It would lift at least 100,000 low-paid workers out of the poverty trap and make jobs more attractive to the unemployed.

It would prevent bad employers undermining the competitiveness and conditions in good employments.

It would reduce dependence of workers on State schemes like the Family Income Supplement.

Ireland and Britain are the only two countries in the EU which do not have a National Minimum Wage.

Arguments against a National Minimum Wage

It would drive many small, labour-intensive firms out of business, costing thousands of jobs.

It would encourage wage claims from higher-paid workers who would want to protect their pay relativity with lower-paid sectors.

It would give employers an incentive to invest more money in capital intensive operations and reduce wage costs.

Any National Minimum Wage, and particularly one that was set significantly higher than the eventual British rate, would seriously undermine Irish competitiveness.

Those in favour of a National Minimum Wage include

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions and its affiliates; the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.

Those opposed

The Irish Business and Employers Confederation; Small Firms Association; Irish Small and Medium Enterprises association.