Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

The word "external" seems to be creeping into most of the Tánaiste's speeches at the moment and everything is deemed to be due external factors. Does the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance take responsibility for the fact that since 2001 Government regulated costs have gone up by 45% while at the same time manufacturing exporters have taken a 24% reduction in real income? Does the Tánaiste accept that since 2006 Ireland has seen a loss of 30% in cost competitiveness that has resulted in goods and services exports losing 7% of their market share?

The fact is the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance is not responsible for external factors but he is certainly responsible for domestic factors, which, particularly Government regulated costs, have been a major contributor to inflation.

National pay talks commenced at 2.30 p.m. today and the question I wish to ask is the same as the one I asked on 30 January. Will the Tánaiste forgo the pay increase of €38,000, recommended by the review body on higher remuneration in the public sector, that he is to receive when he takes up the office of Taoiseach? The Tánaiste yesterday said he has problems with business leaders taking exorbitant pay increases but this is hypocritical because none is more exorbitant than the pay increase he is to receive. The Tánaiste should lead by example.

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