Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The least we can expect from a pedigree Minister is an answer to a simple question. Who is covered by the Bill? Otherwise, we will all be down in the courts, like the staff of the Central Bank recently, as the three months of the new year go by with the Department laterally deciding X, Y and Z are included in the Bill's ambit. Other queries will emerge with chief executives of agencies being asked why they did not pass on the pay reductions.

The Central Bank staff have already contested the decision. I wonder did this influence the Government exempting them from the legislation. The board decided the bank was in the eye of the storm, for reasons we will not go over now, and the pay reductions would apply to its staff. The Government has taken away the exemption from the legislation and the Central Bank staff will be included. Presumably, they will now proceed to the courts with double the commitment. How many others will?

The Minister cannot let the clock wind down by telling us amusing stories about not encountering Seánie in the tent in Galway. The Minister is a lucky man because if he had encountered Seánie he would have probably thrust a loan upon him which he would be now repaying at exorbitant rates.

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