Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

This has been an excellent debate, to which many have contributed. I have one point to make. People are not thick and understand that the money is not available. If the award is to be paid from 1 January next year and beyond, it will be paid on the back of stealth taxes and increased charges in the economy. It will also be paid on the back of cuts in education and health. I am not prepared to accept an increase in our salaries on the back of health cuts. Senator Ryan can afford health cuts because he has two salaries, whereas I do not.

This country needs to take a grip of the economy and the difficulties we face. If we show wise counsel over the next two years, if people show moderate expectations in pay and if we start to reduce the huge sums we are spending, we can turn the economy around for the good times ahead. That is the kind of leadership this motion espouses and which this House should be showing.