I welcome the fact that the Minister, Deputy McCreevy, has seen fit to introduce this legislation on foot of other measures he has brought in to the benefit of Members of the Oireachtas. I commend him for biting the bullet in regard to the welfare and remuneration of Members. For years, Ministers for Finance have shied away from the obvious need to establish a definite pay grade for Oireachtas Members. They did so on the basis that there would be a public outcry. The Minister, Deputy McCreevy, however, introduced a system whereby we are now linked to a particular grade within the Civil Service, thus making pay awards or benchmarking increases automatic.