Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Will the Taoiseach discuss with the Minister for Transport the fact that the system that operates in that Department is simply crazy in terms of freeing up and giving an efficient response to applications for licences for new services, whether on existing routes or new ones? It takes an operator at least three years to get a licence and that is unacceptable. In the sprawling conurbations of this city, we should expect better. We have come a long way since the says when everybody had to go to Busáras to get a bus. Aircoach and others showed what can be done. However, the system that operates within the Department of Transport for issuing of licences is antiquated, inefficient and lacks the professionalism we expect in a modern country.

At the IBEC biennial presidential dinner on 26 October, the Taoiseach rightly said that arresting the trend of deterioration in our cost competitiveness in recent years would be key to future growth. He went on to say that a key consideration when we come to the next phase of pay negotiations under Towards 2016 would be its application to the public sector as much as the private sector. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who is seated beside the Taoiseach, is only in the job a wet week and has already received an increase of €25,000. Good luck to the Minister.

Does the Taoiseach not agree that these awards are disproportionate to the extent that they are not comparable to any private sector area? The only people to whom Ministers can be compared are other Ministers, whether in Britain or another European country. It seems the body reviewing their pay looked to New Zealand and Australia for some reason. On my way to Brussels on Tuesday of last week, I noticed in The Economist a beautiful table showing our small country with its well paid Ministers. Here is our man, ahead of President George Bush, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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