Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What does the Minister mean by my bad month? I do not understand where the Minister is coming from. If the Minister wants to get personal that is fair enough. This is about deflection. The Minister can make it very obvious. As I said at the very start, I believe it was an unfortunate use - this was my first comment - when he suggested that this cohort of workers were the hardest working in society. I actually volunteered that I believed it was an unintentional remark and an unfortunate use of words. The Minister did not take that opportunity and then he tells me that I have had a bad month, I am making allegations and trying to make a diversion. I just want the Minister to clarify that this is not the case, that it is not Government policy to believe that those earning €70,000 are the hardest working workers in society. It is as simple as that.