Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am always fascinated by some of the contributions when Members get so sarcastic and personal towards each other. Whether we think we are winning each other over or peeving each other off, it is quite interesting to watch.

I want to say again for the record that I totally appreciate what Deputy O'Dea is trying to do. I genuinely do, and I hope he believes me. To answer Deputy Brady's question, we had Second Stage of a Bill brought forward by the Labour Party in the Seanad a number of months ago. The debate was extensive, and we could not agree to accept the Bill that day on the basis that a lot needed to be done with it. Senator Nash agreed that day that we would take it offside. We have been working on it extensively since then, and we hope to come back with that Bill. It is not accurate to say that we have done nothing, although I take the compliment implied in saying that I can juggle seven balls in the air at the same time. I take that compliment for what it is worth.

We are working. We have had numerous conversations during oral questions about the penalisation measures that I want to bring in. The example that people have given here this evening is the construction industry. I wish there were 100,000 people working in the construction industry because then maybe we would get more houses built. However, there are not. That issue is still prevalent in that sector, but it is actually far more prevalent in very highly paid jobs, which nobody seems to have mentioned here today. Our pharmaceutical industry, our IT industry and our gaming industry-----

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