James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

When considering the top-heavy composition of the Government, I am strongly aware that quality rather than quantity is the way forward if we are to create an effective, well-honed and economically-viable system of governance. However, even if there is a considerable pruning of the number of Ministers of State, the limitations of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party alliance are such that a thorough overhaul will only be achieved with a change of Government. This new Administration, led by Deputy Kenny, will bring honesty, integrity and respect to the nation.

It is time to throw out the notion of jobs for the boys. An inflated Government that panders to the inflated egos of politicians overlooked for Minister of State positions is a luxury the State can no longer afford. Allowances for Chairmen and other officeholders within the Oireachtas committee system must be discontinued and the membership of those committees drastically reduced. Fine Gael has proposed wide-ranging Oireachtas reform as a direct response to calls for such action from those who should be calling the tune, namely, the taxpayers. We have a Government that demands cutbacks which impact on the old, the young and the vulnerable while itself refusing to take any share of the pain. It is time to clear out these dinosaurs. The only solution to this toxic Government of Fianna Fáil and the Green Party is a general election.

Old habits die hard. A Government that is used to the Galway tent lifestyle is clinging to the trappings of wealth while looking to others to make good the deficit it caused. Freedom of information disclosures have revealed its excesses to taxpayers and they are no longer willing to shoulder the burden alone. However, the Taoiseach refuses to reduce the number of Ministers of State and their staff which cost taxpayers more than €8 million annually. Meanwhile, the Minister for Finance demands income and pension levies from those least able to afford them. The figure of €8 million does not include the cost of State cars, drivers and other diverse expenses such as the laughable "walking around money".

It is scandalous that a Minister can draw an index-linked pension after serving less than five years. If these former Ministers are sitting Members, they will also be in receipt of a Deputy or Senator's salary, as demonstrated by a certain politician in my constituency of Longford-Westmeath. This is in obvious contrast to the position of low and middle-income earners with families to support, mortgages to pay and no guarantee that they will have a job next week or next month. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, acknowledged the difficulties faced by this sector when he observed yesterday that people earning €20,000 or €30,000 are obliged to endure income reductions while others have lost their jobs. At the same time, bankers are claiming they cannot work for as little as €500,000. The Minister remarked that there must be a change in this mindset.

While I agree with the Minister on this point, I suggest that he look closer to home to effect such change. He works under an ineffectual Taoiseach who has an inflated basic pay of €257,024, plus perks and expenses. Forcing working families to pay for the Cowen recession is entirely wrong. The Government is imposing levies and cutbacks on ordinary people while continuing to embrace the Galway tent lifestyle. Despite the introduction of these hard-hitting measures, Ministers still consider their rear ends to be more precious than those of the average person. While they are worthy of expensive premier seats on aeroplanes, economy class is fine for those footing the Government's bill.

In addition to reducing the number of Ministers of State, the Taoiseach should also review the parameters of their role and the cost to the State. A number of Ministers of State, Deputies Seán Power, Conor Lenihan and Mansergh, have already acknowledged the inescapable fact that fewer Ministers of State would be viable by offering to step down from their posts. The Taoiseach should have accepted these resignations immediately in addition to several more, voluntary or otherwise.

While undeniably laughable, it is also extremely worrying that the inflated collective ego of the Government dictates that it is necessary to burden the poor of this State of 4.3 million people with the cost of 20 Ministers of State. This is in sharp contrast to the situation in France where there are 22 equivalent positions for a population of more than 64 million. Is this indicative of the mismanagement and spendthrift ways of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government or the relative super-efficiency of the French Government, or both? According to the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, he and his Government find managing the affairs of 4.3 million people particularly difficult. Perhaps they could take a lesson from the French. I am sure it is also the case in that country that the business of government continues, as the Minister, Deputy Carey, described it, to grow year on year, both in volume and complexity. However, the French seem better able to cope with the increasing workload of government. I take this opportunity to compliment the French Government on the leadership it is providing within Europe.

The Minister of State, Deputy Carey, agreed with the Fine Gael motion when he acknowledged that no sector of our society can be immune from the negative impact of the economic downturn. Moreover, he accepted it is important that we in the Oireachtas show leadership by putting our own house in order. The first step in this regard should be to reduce the number of Ministers of State and improve the efficiency of those remaining, thus reducing the scandalous wastage of taxpayers' money.

The way elderly people have been treated is shameful. The abuses being imposed by the Government on a daily basis are shameful. It was only when the door of the helicopter on which he was travelling some weeks ago fell off that we discovered that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, was availing of this means of transport to return from a fact-finding mission to Kerry. We do not know the extent of the expense being incurred by Ministers and Ministers of State on a daily basis.

The forthcoming budget must contain measures to reduce the top-heavy nature of Government and to ensure the pain is equally shared by all sectors of society, including the Government, the Judiciary and the Presidency. Taxpayers' backs have been broken by the burden of carrying the rich and the privileged who are the cronies of the Fianna Fáil-led Government.

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