Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is great. Following on from my contribution yesterday, I note the Government has decided to have no opinion on bank executives' pay in Bank of Ireland and the other banks. I again ask the Leader to pass on the message to the Minister that it is not too late. I believe that on behalf of the people, he should reject the remuneration packages for the executives in Bank of Ireland. Furthermore, may I remind the Leader that while the Minister has stated he is waiting for the banks to consider the Mercer report, he has directed the banks to seek reductions in salaries and pensions of between 6% and 10%. Where does this leave the ordinary bank workers? Can the Leader confirm the Government will direct Bank of Ireland, AIB, PTSB, ICS and IBRC to take on the executive pay first?

More than 180 executives in State-owned or partly State-owned banking institutions earn more than €200,000 per year. Most people will agree with me that were a pay cut imposed across the board for normal bank workers who are carrying out their duties as best they can, it would be grossly unfair. The Leader should confirm today that the priority for these pay cuts will be at the upper levels in the banks. Many Members will have received much correspondence from ordinary bank workers as part of the A Bridge Too Far campaign and I believe what they seek is reasonable. Executives and board members should be hit first and this is the reason the Government is failing absolutely in its opportunity today to reject the remuneration packages for chief executives and board members of Bank of Ireland. While it is an absolute cop-out, at the very least the Government might give some succour to ordinary bank workers to the effect it will not insist on them receiving pay cuts of between 6% and 10%.

Furthermore, I ask the Leader to arrange soon for a debate on the betting industry and specifically on how independent bookmakers are finding it extremely difficult to survive with the onset of online betting and the Government's failure to bring forward agreed proposals to tax online betting at source in the area in which such bets are placed. This leaves a highly uneven playing pitch for independent bookmakers, who are closing down pretty much every day of the week. They employ a significant number of people and I believe this Chamber could provide an opportunity to put forward such cases to the relevant Minister, namely, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney.

I note most local authorities are at present reviewing and sending out reviews of their rental rates for social housing. In my home area of Fingal, rent review letters started to arrive last week and the average increase in rent for social and council housing there is 24%. This is directly due to the introduction of the Government's property tax. Moreover, I believe the local authorities have increased rents over and above the amount that would be levied on the aforementioned properties and which must be paid by the local authorities to the Government. Consequently, there is no justification whatsoever for a rent increase of 24% for local authority tenants.

In this context, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, should come into this House to explain to Members the position in respect of the Government's view as to what constitutes a reasonable rent increase for local authority tenants. Does anyone believe a 24% increase is reasonable on foot of the many cuts experienced in this area? Why are the local authorities, which report to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, being allowed to increase rents to this extent, which is far above what they will be due to pay on their property tax for these developments? The matter is sufficiently urgent to table an amendment to the Order of Business today and I ask my colleagues to support it. I propose Members set aside perhaps even 40 minutes for the Minister to come in and explain this scenario in the Chamber, in order that they can work with the local authorities to ensure such rent increases do not go ahead.