Derek McDowell (Labour)

This recommendation is obviously, as Senator Higgins said, intrinsically linked to individualisation which the Minister did nothing further to advance in the budget. Does he remain committed to the individualisation process? I have never been particularly in favour of it as, no doubt, he will have noticed. It did not appear in the Labour Party manifesto either.

There are difficulties in regard to alleviating the hybrid situation in which we find ourselves. The Minister has done half of the job and left us with three levels. There was a distinct clear logic in what he was trying to do but he has only gone half way and introduced an anomalous situation which may be all right for a few years but which will not stand over a long period.