Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I drilled down into them and went on national radio. People were saying a boot allowance was disgraceful. People were in high dudgeon over a few euro per year. However, we must have clarity and convey it to the public. A good job has been done by the Committee of Public Accounts in that regard.

The Deputy wondered if I am worthy of my job. I have been elected by Dáil Éireann to this job and I will hold it as long as the Dáil has confidence in me. I will not worry about Deputy McDonald's assessment of that, because I am conscious of her assessment of all of us. She resides upon a lovely high stool of judgment.

With regard to the Oireachtas inquiry Bill, the handling of this is a matter for this committee. I presented the Bill to the Oireachtas committee and I am anxious to have it as quickly as possible. However, I am in the hands of this committee in terms of how it deals with it and, ultimately, in the hands of the Dáil and Seanad and how they deal with it in due course.