Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the school workplace audits that the Minister, Deputy Quinn, has initiated in school building programmes. I know they are well intentioned as he is concerned about the protection of workers and regulation. However, why is the Minister not using NERA, the professional State labour inspectorate, to carry out these audits instead of using a private company? Obviously there will be costs and quality assurance issues. It would be useful to have that clarified as I have received a number of calls on the matter this morning.

I am uncomfortable that the Government is not using its vote today to express dissatisfaction with the remuneration of Mr. Richie Boucher, which is in excess of the cap. I accept it was put in place by the former Government, but there is considerable concern among the public. This will stick in the craw of many people. I fully respect that the Minister wants the bank to do its own business, get on with its affairs, become independent and give us back our 15% and more. However, Bank of Ireland needs to see this as a goodwill gesture to allow it to move on to achieve the 6% to 10% cuts in remuneration, including pensions, mentioned in the Mercer report. It is Mr. Boucher's job to achieve this.