So far, the Government has been opposed to this provision. There is no logical reason it should be opposed to it. I believe the general public would support it. It is not about singling out or discriminating against or trying to undermine the Judiciary. It is trying to ensure that the public retains its respect for the Judiciary and that members of the Judiciary make the same contribution at a time of public urgency as the rest of the community has been called upon to make. It is completely unacceptable that the Government is willing to tackle this issue but proposes to vote down this amendment, which seeks to protect the very minimal income currently received by those employed who only have available to them the minimum wage. There is an extraordinary contrast to this and when he replies I ask the Minister of State to give a commitment from the Government to support the enactment of this Private Members' Bill so that a referendum on judicial salaries coincides with the next general election.

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