Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Minister for Finance reminds me of the accountant who was once asked what is two and two. The accountant said, "What do you want it to be? That is what was asked of the Minister on this occasion. It appears senior civil servants are the exception to the rule. They succeeded in having an earlier cut regarded as their current cut. It is cynical that the information on this was released before Christmas. People are making huge sacrifices. I accept that many of these senior civil servants have mortgages and are suffering like most people but this measure is sending out a message that sacrifices are for little people and leadership is for somebody else. If we really want to get out of this economic mess, there must be leadership and it must be shown from the top.

The 655 individuals are management personnel working throughout the country in the health service, the Central Bank and hospitals. They did not lead this country, and they certainly would not prove themselves in the private economy.

I hear constantly about sacrifice and mini-revolts within the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party. In recent weeks Deputy Mattie McGrath has been very vocal on this issue on local radio in south Tipperary and elsewhere. Who is stopping Deputy McGrath from voting with his conscience? Is it the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh? Is he leaning on Deputy McGrath and ensuring that his constituency colleague-----

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