A group representing the retail sector says Ireland's cost of living should be addressed before a 'living wage' is considered.
Retail Excellence Ireland is reacting to comments from the Tánaiste and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.
She wants employers to sign up to a 'living wage'agreement as the economy begins to grow again, and thinks people receiving the wage would gain more spending power and become better able to leave welfare behind.
A living wage has been described as "a wage which makes possible a minimum acceptable standard of living", and is based on cost of living.
A living wage has been calculated as €11.45 an hour for 2014 - almost €3 more than the current minimum wage. Although that would seemingly raise employers' staffing costs, it is believed they would experience benefits such as increased work quality and reduced employee turnover rates.
However CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland Sean Murphy says while a living wage may be a popular idea that we will be hearing more about, it is not necessarily the way to go:
