Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Perhaps the officials in the Department of Finance, particularly those dealing with banking, might prepare a note later in the day for the benefit of Deputies. The Minister advised us during a debate on another Bill and in different arrangements that he had given himself enormous powers under the Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Bill 2010. He verbally assured the House that senior executives would not receive bonuses and that the bonus culture was at an end. That was my understanding when I spoke. I am concerned about those who work in bank call centres, many of whom are women, as Deputy Kathleen Lynch said. There have been bank call centres at various times in the Minister's own constituency, as he probably knows, as well as other parts of the country. Those people are paid a relatively low or sometimes very low basic wage - €10,000 to €15,000 - and make up the rest of their pay through bonuses. Calls are overseen by a supervisor whose job is to make sure they do not go on too long. The Minister knows himself that if one telephones the bank, one is given only a few moments to answer. That is the bonus structure.

We in the Labour Party are anxious to ensure that such low-paid employees - who are mostly women - are not penalised inadvertently by this measure, which we strongly support and which the Government is at last introducing. Perhaps later the officials will be able to provide clarification for us in a note, but that is our legal understanding.

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