Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I thought I did something else wrong but I thank God I am spared this time.

The non-voted expenditure also consists of expenditure on share subscriptions to State bodies, judicial salaries and pensions, and with which I have no difficulty at all, salaries and pensions of Uachtarán na hÉireann. We have a good Uachtarán na hÉireann and I respect him. He came up the hard way and he understands life in Ireland. On his recent interjection on tax, in spite of the attempts to corral him back, it is time someone in authority in this country gave representation to the people and the anguish they are going through because of the recklessness of previous Governments, permanent government and this Government.

This Central Fund, unless otherwise stipulated by law, is where all State revenues are deposited and is also the source of all Government spending. The fund is provided for under Article 11 of Bunreacht na hÉireann. The Central Fund, therefore, equals the credited amount in the Exchequer account kept at the Central Bank.

As there is mention of the Central Bank in the Bills Digest, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes. I am glad he is here. With all the talk about the Cyprus experience and the Minister of State and his European colleagues discussing over the past number of days the sequence of punishment or whatever repayment when persons get reckless again, and to which this Bill should apply as well, I am reliably informed that there is nothing like what should be in the Central Bank to cover deposits up to €100,000 that are guaranteed. What is there would not go within an ass's roar of it. The Minister of State might be able to clarify the matter for me when he replies. We are told that up to €100,000 is guaranteed and we are delighted. They tried to interfere with it in Cyprus. The Government has the Presidency and Deputy Brian Hayes must take responsibility in that his senior Minister was involved in this up to so high, and the officials, because Ireland holds the Presidency and the Government is in charge. I am informed that there is nothing else-----

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