Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will ask one more question. The Minister had a back-and-forth with Deputy Pearse Doherty in the Dáil recently about Christmas bonuses. The Minister kept stating that they are included in the base. He was adamant about the matter and gave the impression that they have been budgeted for. My understanding is that they are only in the base to the extent that they are in the outturn from last year. The money was spent and therefore it is in the outturn. Every year, the Minister produces a set of Estimates of what he intends to spend in the current year. However, given that the Christmas bonus is not included in the Estimates, to state that it is in the base does not mean it is budgeted for. Can the Minister take us through that?