I am often amused, and Senator Mansergh will recall this because he acted in another capacity in my political party at the time, in regard to the minimum wage. The idea of the minimum wage, which has been regarded as quite revolutionary and socially progressive, was announced by the Fianna Fáil Party about six to nine months before the general election of 1997. The person who advocated and announced the idea as our policy was none other than myself. This well-known, right wing Thatcherite ideologue was the person who foisted this on the Fianna Fáil Party. Funnily enough, the then rainbow Government was not in a position to respond. It agreed it was a good idea but believed it would not be possible and it was not incorporated in its election manifesto. The rainbow Government, led by Deputy John Bruton, and former Deputies Spring and Proinsias De Rossa did not include it as part of their manifesto because they thought it could not be done. It was I who announced it as part of Fianna Fáil policy because it was my idea, a fact which will upset those on the left.