Ireland: Cuts in minimum wages suggested

During July 2009, a number of Irish government ministers and other figures floated the idea of cuts in national and sectoral minimum wage rates, and in some cases general pay, to help companies survive the recession.

The idea of wage reductions was brought to the forefront of public debate on 8 July, by Barry O'Leary, the chief executive of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), the public body responsible for attracting and developing foreign investment in Ireland.