Dáil debates
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed)
Economic Management Council
3:00 pm
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of times the Economic Management Council meets. [34293/11]
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of times the Economic Management Council has met since the summer recess. [34294/11]
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council met with representatives of the banks in relation to mortgage interest rates [34295/11]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the staffing and operations of the Economic Management Council. [34387/11]
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the meeting between the banks and the Economic Management Council. [35753/11]
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report to Dáil Éireann on the operation of the Economic Management Council. [35841/11]
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council has any plans to meet again with representatives of the banks. [37292/11]
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council has met or will meet with the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland or the Financial Regulator in relation to the issue of mortgage interest rates. [37293/11]
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council has met with or will meet with the Governor of the Central Bank or the Financial Regulator. [37294/11]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach if he will detail all meetings of the Economic Management Council which involved persons from outside of Government or the public service; and the persons involved. [37375/11]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 11: To ask the Taoiseach the number of times the Economic Management Council met in 2011 and prior to Budget 2012. [39753/11]
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11 together.
The Government Economic Managment Council has been established with the status of a Cabinet committee. It has four members: myself, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. A second Secretary General has been appointed in my Department whose responsibilites included managing support for the council and reporting to the Tánaiste on matters relating to the council. Additional support for the council is provided from within the existing resources of my Department, working in close conjunction with staff from the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Foreign Affairs and Trade.
It is a Cabinet committee and therefore confidentiality of discussions at the Economic Management Council is protected by the Constitution. In line with longstanding practice, it is not appropriate to answer questions about proceedings at the council and the agendas of future meetings.
The council normally meets every week and has met 14 times since the summer recess. In addition, on 9 November, the members of the council met with representatives of the three largest banks to discuss the issue of lending to small and medium enterprises. We also took the opportunity to make the banks aware of the Government's view on the passing on of ECB interest rate reductions to their customers.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I tabled seven of the questions so perhaps I might be allowed some extra time.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I refer to the cut in the ECB interest rates which last week showed a reduction of 0.25%. The Bank of Ireland has passed on the cut only partially and Allied Irish Bank has refused to do so. Although the Taoiseach called in the banks to meet with the economic management council they still continue to defy the Government. Given they are supposed to be owned by the taxpayers and that billions of euro of the people's money has been ploughed into them, what will the Taoiseach do about this? Will he act in the interests of the people and introduce legislation?
I am particularly vexed by the public interest directors who are paid enormous salaries and are also paid €3,000 for attending a meeting. Has the Taoiseach confidence in them?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We called in the banks and had a discussion with them about lending policy in general and whether AIB and Bank of Ireland would be in a position to meet the 2011 target of lending €3 billion apiece, €3.5 billion next year and €4 billion in 2013. We also called in Ulster Bank so there were three banks together at the end of that meeting for a discussion on the passing on of the interest rate reduction as confirmed by the ECB. The ECB passed on reductions in interest rate to help people who are under pressure, to prevent banks making a profit on such cases and because it is in the interest of stimulating investment and growth.
Allied Irish Bank passed on the interest rate reduction; the other two did not. Since then there has been a further reduction. The point made at the meeting was that the Government was in full agreement with the regulator that we do not want to see unfair increases put upon mortgage holders who are under pressure. Obviously, this is in everybody's interest. One does not want a situation whereby mortgage holders are severely put upon by the very banks that made serious mistakes in the past.
Following that meeting we contacted the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator to request their opinion on recent developments in regard to mortgage interest rates and the possible policy of the Central Bank in the matter. The Financial Regulator responded to me and indicated it would step up an intensive engagement with the banks on the issue of setting variable interest rates disproportionate to the cost of their funds. This is in addition to the Central Bank ensuring the banks treat their customers fairly.
I also made it clear to the banks that we would call them back in January to discuss an agenda of items in regard to access to credit, lending policy and difficulties being experienced by a whole range of would-be borrowers in business and in SMEs throughout the country. I had indicated that if the Financial Regulator sought change in his powers of authority the Government would respond to that. The regulator replied by way of clarification, stating that the power to exercise close regulatory control over retail interests is not being sought by the Central Bank at this time.
In regard to further ECB interest rate cuts announced on 8 December, the same applies. I welcome the decision of EBS, Permanent TSB and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation to pass on a further reduction to variable rate customers and would encourage the other banks to follow suit. I reiterate, the reason the ECB announced interest rate reductions was to relieve pressure on hard-pressed mortgage payers, to stimulate growth and investment and that banks would not make a financial killing as a consequence of bad decisions they made.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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That is all fair enough. The Taoiseach is appealing to the banks' better feelings. However, that has not worked, certainly not with some of the banks in question. Will he introduce legislation to ensure cuts in interest rates by the European Central Bank are passed on to customers in Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank and so on?
With the Ceann Comhairle's indulgence, I wish to raise another issue. I have my notes from this morning's meeting with the Taoiseach. He has accused me of misrepresenting what he said which I believe is a serious charge. I did not misrepresent what the Taoiseach said. I actually noted what he said.
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Did Deputy Adams write it down?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will Deputy Adams stick to the question, please?
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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With respect, a Cheann Comhairle-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is not making any statements here now. He is out of order as we are on Question Time. On any other issues, he can come to my office and we will see what arrangements can be made to correct records. In the meantime, we are on Question Time and the Deputy should stick to the subject matter.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I will do that, a Cheann Comhairle.
I will restate my questions. Will the Taoiseach introduce legislation to ensure cuts in interest rates by the European Central Bank are passed on to customers here? The banks, into which we have put billions of the people's money are under the taxpayers' control.
Those directors appointed to the banks to look after the public interest are paid enormous amounts of money for doing so. They include former leaders of all the other political parties and are paid €3,000 just to go to a meeting. Does the Taoiseach still have confidence in them?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Adams can check his notes again. I am not responsible for what he writes down. I am responsible for what I say.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would like to see what he wrote down. The next time we have a private meeting, I will record it officially if he is going to broadcast it like this afterwards.
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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On a point of order, how is the Taoiseach allowed to respond to that matter when it was already ruled out of order? Can there be a bit of consistency in the application of the rules? It is an outrage.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The passing on of the ECB interest rate reduction is a matter for the Financial Regulator. I wrote to him on behalf of the Government stating if he required further assistance or a change in his regulatory powers, the Government would respond favourably to such a request. I have already read out his reply in which he clarified that at this time he did not seek any change in his regulatory authority. This is not just a case of the Government introducing legislation. It is important it is regulated by the Financial Regulator.
Deputy Adams will be aware that tracker mortgages receive the reduction automatically. The Government introduced a 30% mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers who bought between 2004 and 2008, a commitment in the programme for Government. The Minister for Finance will make further changes arising from the recommendations contained in the Keane report and other matters raised with the Department of Finance since then. It is in everyone's interest that, in so far as the Government can assist, the serious pressure some have with their mortgages is reduced.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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For the record, my notes from this morning's meeting say the Taoiseach said this is the wrong meeting to put the Irish case as the focus is on the euro.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will allow Deputy Adams in after Deputy Martin.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are questions down about the European issue for later.
The Taoiseach said he would insist on the passing on of ECB interest rate reductions. It was, in fact, the programme for Government that made that commitment.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, we are on questions on the Economic Management Council.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, we have been on these questions for the past 15 minutes. A recent ISME report on credit made it clear the banks are not doing their job in lending to business. Regarding mortgage holders, it is high time the banks were told they have an obligation to the taxpayer, not just to their shareholders alone. The Bank of Ireland stance is arrogant and thumbing its nose at the Government and the taxpayer.
When the Economic Management Council was established, every journalist in town was told it would be a new and radical way of managing economic decision-making in Cabinet. Last month, we were told it was the driving core of the budget process. Given the number of meetings it has had and that it cleared the budget line by line, does the Taoiseach agree it has failed its first major test? It produced a budget in which all the tough cuts in tax, welfare, education and health were targeted to fall on the poorest sections of society.
Departmental documents on the comprehensive spending review show the Taoiseach and other members of the council were aware of the details of cuts to disadvantaged schools, career guidance and language teaching from 9 September.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can we stick to Question Time?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is extraordinary that in that time no member of the Economic Management Council shouted, "Stop".
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Martin, this is Question Time.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It suggests the workings of the Economic Management Council are seriously flawed if it allowed budget decisions through, one of which had to be immediately reversed because of its impact on people with disabilities.
4:00 pm
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We all agree ECB interest rate reductions should be passed on by the banks. We made that crystal clear to the banks when they attended a meeting in November on this issue. It must be borne in mind the Government has just a 15% stake in Bank of Ireland. Ulster Bank made its position clear in so far as the number of mortgages it has here are concerned. Nonetheless, there was a full and a frank discussion about passing on the interest rate reduction. I intend to call the banks back in again in mid-January. This time there will be a specific list of agenda items to which they will respond in writing before the meeting to ensure a more comprehensive discussion later.
The Economic Management Council is not the Cabinet and was never intended to be. It is, however, a Cabinet sub-committee that is able to deal with a range of issues which can then be presented to the Cabinet for its perusal and decision, if required. If one has to take €3.8 billion out of the economy in 2012 - €2.2 billion in current spending and €1.6 billion in taxation measures - the larger Departments of Health and Social Protection will be the two front-runners in cuts. How many times has Deputy Martin been told of a scandalous waste of money in a section or scheme in a Department which should be abolished or made more effective?
A revolution is happening in the social protection area. For years immemorial, one was paid one's allowance and told to go away. All social protection moneys come from the taxpayer or, as is the case now, borrowed to keep services running. To ensure best value, people's work experience and competencies, along with the job they are seeking, are discussed with them. Jobseekers are encouraged to state what job they want and what contribution they can make instead of simply being given their payment.
Were we not able to deal with the major spending Departments, one would not be able to achieve the savings target I referred to earlier. If one abolished all the smaller Departments, such as Defence, one would not even make up the €3.8 billion required. Savings of up to €600 million in the Department of Social Protection, along with serious reductions in the expenditure by the Department of Health will bring about leaner, more efficient and effective Departments and benefit those availing of their services, be they health service users or jobseekers.
The unemployment rate in this country is entirely unsatisfactory at 14.4% and that is the big challenge for Government in the time ahead. That is where the focus of Government will be with labour activation measures and the Government jobs agenda being announced in January.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach would need to be careful with language and restrain himself. There has been no revolution in social protection.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Counterculture.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The only revolution is that people are being savaged-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sorry. This is Question Time.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Labour activation measures have been a feature of the social welfare system for the past two decades. It has never been the case that people just sign on. That has not been the case for many years. What has happened in this budget highlights the flaw in the economic management council. We were told it went through things line by line. The Taoiseach said it had 14 meetings. We know from the comprehensive spending review and the departmental documents behind it-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question please.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----that the Taoiseach and the members of the council were aware of all these cuts as far back as 9 September, yet no one seemed to see the unfairness of them-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question please.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and the impact they would have. Given that the Ministers for Finance, Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and others-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question please.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A Cheann Comhairle, I am trying to ask a question. I have never come across this interference-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is Question Time and I am going to insist that the Deputy asks question.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and I have been in this House a long time.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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But the Ceann Comhairle tends to have an awful tendency to interrupt people when they are legitimately asking a question.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, I am just reminding the Deputy that it is Question Time.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not on, with the greatest of respect.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is Question Time. If the Deputy wants to make statements, he cannot make them at Question Time.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not making a statement. I am trying to come a question-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please stick to the agenda.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----but the Ceann Comhairle has a habit of interfering when he does not like maybe some of what has been said.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Excuse me, please withdraw that remark.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is the way I interpret it now.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please withdraw that remark.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, which remark?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That I do not like what is being said.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I withdraw that remark but I am very unhappy with the manner of the interventions.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy may be unhappy but I am also unhappy with the manner in which the Deputy is trying to conduct Question Time-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am trying to say that now. I am being very fair and reasonable.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----by continually making ongoing statements. The Deputy should ask a question. He has three questions tabled. Please ask the question.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am going to ask a question.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If we are having statements, the Deputy can make all the statements he wants.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I witnessed the previous ten to 15 minutes and there was not that kind of intervention.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, there was not.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I asked Deputy Adams and I asked everybody else to please ask a question.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I respectfully suggest that if the Ceann Comhairle let people get on with asking the question, there would not be any of this. I have been here a long time-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is not asking questions; he is making statements. That is what I am pointing out.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is the Ceann Comhairle's comment.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Other Deputies want to come in. Deputy Higgins has a question.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will allow other Members in. I have tabled questions as the leader of the Fianna Fáil Party.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are 20 minutes on these questions.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have 400,000 people who elected us and I am entitled to ask the questions.
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The party has only 19 seats though.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am entitled to ask the questions.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please ask a question.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is the Dáil and there should be no need for this undermining of the attempt to ask the questions.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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As long as I am in the Chair, I will continue to apply the rules-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Of course, the Ceann Comhairle will. I have no doubt about that.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----and I expect the Deputy to abide by the rules the same as everybody else.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have, and I have been extremely fair and reasonable in so doing.
Does the Taoiseach agree the economic management council has undermined the ability of the Cabinet to work together on the budget? The statements of the Ministers for Finance, Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources basically sent shots across the bow of other Cabinet colleagues. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said Labour Party Ministers decided the welfare cuts. Does the Taoiseach not agree that this is a direct breach of collective Cabinet responsibility? What, if anything, will he do about that?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy that the decisions taken in the budget are the collective responsibility of the Cabinet. The economic management council is not the Cabinet. The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced a comprehensive expenditure review across all Departments very early on in the summer with Ministers to respond to him by the end of September. The submissions were further analysed and dealt with. The decisions taken are Cabinet decisions taken collectively and they affect every single Department right down the line. No section of any Department, with very few exceptions, has been left untouched in respect of the expenditure review assessment.
The economic management council is not the Cabinet. It can deal with issues and bring them before Cabinet for it to decide to accept or whatever but the decisions taken are the collective responsibility of all the members around the table. That has not changed and will not change.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What about the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport's comments?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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People may read into anybody's comments what they like.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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But he said the Labour Party did the welfare cuts.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The position is that the reductions in any individual Department are all collectively accepted by the Government and there is no Department that did not have reductions applied to them in some area.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Could I ask the Taoiseach to be forthcoming on the real agenda and purpose of the economic management council? The membership is the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, who are the leaders of the Fine Gael and Labour parties, respectively, the Minister for Finance from the Fine Gael Party and the alternate Minister for Finance from the Labour Party. Is this not really a kind of Stalinist politburo inside the Cabinet-----
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has moved to the right hand wing of the Chamber instead of the left hand wing.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----to dictate to the Cabinet the diktats from the IMF-EU, particularly in regard to austerity, to maintain the bondholders and bankers of Europe, which, in turn, are dictated to the hapless backbenchers of both parties?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the Deputy asking a question?
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I have asked two questions.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Perhaps this is an Irish version of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse doling out not so much war and pestilence, but savage austerity for our people.
I refer to Cabinet confidentiality as it applies to the economic management council. The original four horsemen of mythology came out of a book of scrolls sealed with seven seals, perhaps in anticipation of Cabinet confidentiality. How can there be Cabinet confidentiality when the Taoiseach meets a group of bankers? Does that not cease to be a Government meeting bound by confidentiality, especially when the Taoiseach is meeting agents of the organisations that were up to their necks in bringing about the collapse of this economy along with others? Is it not, therefore, a nonsense to insist on Cabinet confidentiality to deny the Dáil a full account of what happens at the economic management council in regard to strategy for the economy going into the future?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The answer to the Deputy's first question is that the economic management council is not a Stalinist politburo.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is acting like one though.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad to see the Deputy on that side of the Chamber than over here for whatever reason he has changed. I do not know whether he cannot stick the heat over there.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is to keep the Taoiseach on his toes.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The horsemen Deputy Higgins spoke of are as mythical as the battle of Moytura.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Government is riding roughshod over the Irish people. That is why the reference is appropriate.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The economic management council, as I said in reply to Deputy Martin, is not the Cabinet but it is entitled, as a committee, to meet the chief executive officers of the banks, either collectively or individually, because it is in the interest of the consumer that the council should make Government policy clearly and plainly known to people in those positions and it has done so. For instance, the council might meet the Financial Regulator or the Governor of the Central Bank in regard to issues that are clearly of national importance.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is not any kind of Stalinist organisation. It is a case of being able to streamline a range of issues before they get to Cabinet.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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What is the secrecy about?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We are not sitting around for hours on end doing nothing. One puts one's agenda there and issues that can be dealt with and that can be, at least, focused on can then come to Cabinet for decision in a professional and competent way.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Does the Taoiseach intend via the council to take action against EBS, which is a State owned bank, to deal with the appalling situation where 300 of its workforce have had a month's pay, worth €2,500, taken off them while managers and executives of that bank are, scandalously, not having a penny taken off their high salaries or incomes? This is an absolute scandal. This was effectively-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----part of their annual salary and these workers have lost, at two days notice and just before Christmas, €2,500 each on average.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is an entirely separate question.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Will the Taoiseach, via the economic management council, tell the EBS to give those workers their money back and take the money off the top earners in the EBS instead?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not have the details of that. I am sure the representatives of the workers in the EBS will be taking up their case with the management. It is an issue the Deputy could raise as an item of topical interest in the House if the Ceann Comhairle were to allow it.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I have done.