Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In fairness to the Taoiseach, he has developed a skill, well-honed over the years, for answering questions that he has not been asked. It is accepted that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, has made this proposal. Nobody, including the Taoiseach, is denying that and the Minister's spokesperson essentially confirmed it this morning. The question is whether the Taoiseach believes such a proposal is fair. Does he not accept that it is discriminatory in respect of people who graduated here and work here?

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, is nodding. Can he enlighten the House on something?

There is considerable anger that such an out of touch proposal could get to the stage where a Minister announces it to all intents and purposes, believes it to be a fantastic idea and does not think through its legality or discriminatory nature.

Many Irish graduates are asking who came up with this bananas idea and are making the point that anyone who stayed in Ireland would effectively be punished by such a proposal – they would effectively be punished because they hung around.

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