The Dáil has begun considering calls to pay every public worker a so-called ‘living wage’ of €11.50 per hour.

The call comes from Labour which also wants a clampdown on zero-hour contracts with unpredictable hours for workers.

However, the Government’s set to vote down the call, in favour of its own motion which would make the Living Wage voluntary for employers.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin has also defended his own party’s record in the area of workers’ rights.

“At the worst of times we have brought back collective bargaining as a right, we have introduced a low-pay commission, we have restored the minimum wage and increased it twice but we have an awful lot more to do.”