Cost of living too high to deal with cut in minimum wage
Wednesday July 30 2008
We wanted to know whether people think the minimum wage is enough to live on, if things cost too much, and about the recession in Ireland.
The overall consensus seemed to be against a reduction in the minimum wage.
The cost of living and accommodation seems to be a big issue for many, especially young people.
Damien Connolly, from Dunleer, doesn?t believe a reduction in the minimum wage would solve anything.The minimum wage definitely shouldn?t be reduced,? he said. ?Purely because of the prices of rent and buying a house.?
His brother, Matthew, agrees, saying: ?People just couldn?t live with a reduction in the minimum wage?.
When asked if he thinks it is likely that Ireland will have a recession he said: ?I think Ireland is talking itself into a recession?.
Raymond Reynolds, from Mornington, believes that the minimum wage should not be reduced, especially with the price of oil.
He also says that it?s unfair to take money from those who have the least.Highly paid people should have their wages reduced,? he said, ?and definitely not the ordinary workers?.
When asked if the minimum wage should be reduced, Nicola Molloy, from Drogheda, said: ?Definitely not, if anything, it should be upped.?
Nicola, like others, is unsure about the economy as it stands. ?I?m not sure about a recession? she said, ?but there has been a bit of a downturn?.
Terry Boylan, from Drogheda, believes things are just too expensive. ?The cost of living has gone up, there should be price reductions for necessary things like bread,? he said.The minimum wage shouldn?t be reduced, things are too dear in Drogheda,? he adds.
Jim Gough, living in Duleek Street, and originally from Birmingham, said: ?I don?t think the minimum wage is enough to live on. There should be no reduction in the minimum wage?.If there is to be a reduction in wages it should come from those earning excess profits.?
In terms of a recession, he said: ?I think we are very close to being in one now.?
