Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I am stunned that €40 million will be paid in bonuses by AIB. It may be an entitlement legally, but morally it is indefensible. Was the Government aware that this was in process when nationalising the bank? What type of negotiators did the Government employ since they could not strike a deal on behalf of the taxpayer contingent on bonuses not being paid? Then AIB would have had to put it up to its workers to roll back on the bonuses to be paid. We need such negotiations.

I refer to the new universal social charge which will replace the income and health levies. Is it true that it will affect everyone, including those who hold medical cards? I have received a disturbing e-mail, as I am sure other Members have, about a family with a medical card who will lose €67 a week if this is true. That is exactly the amount they need to pay their mortgage. The parents have everything worked out for how much they need for food, light, heat and so on.