John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is it not a fact that if the Department allows these bonuses under the heading of retention payments, it is effectively allowing the Central Bank to set a trend where these payments are allowed and the whole thing then gets out of control in a similar way to the bonus culture that existed? If the Department allows it to say that it is keeping an employee and must pay them retention money, it is driving up the payment for that type of qualification in any other business so the whole thing gets into a spiral again and can get out of control. Here we see the Central Bank, which is supposed to be setting a good example, now setting an example for banks to follow and very quickly we are in situation which is difficult to control.