Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The question is, who in the Minister's ear in terms of advising him on what is an appropriate salary for senior bank officials to be earning? Is he not getting all his advice from insiders and people who have skin in the game? On what basis did he come to the conclusion that paying somebody more than €500,000 a year will achieve a better customer service in our retail banks? On what basis did he come to the conclusion that by paying somebody this grotesque level of income, we would somehow have a more ethical banking system? What is his thinking? The public is finding it very difficult to understand, given the lives that were destroyed, the enormous hardship imposed on so many people in this country and the huge social and economic damage done by our out-of-control banks.

On what basis did the Minister come to the conclusion that this would be good for the country, for Irish business, for banking and, most of all, for the public who have to use our retail banks? What benefits will accrue to ordinary customers and small-scale business people?

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