Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I too would like to see the integrity of the public service ethos upheld. On rare occasions in days gone by one could work through until 5 a.m. or 7 a.m. without overtime, bonuses or incentives. I understand permanent civil servants now receive performance bonuses. I cannot state I wholly approve of this development.

While most, or all, of us applaud the efforts of the Minister for Agriculture and Food to keep tabs on the EU Trade Commissioner, I must share a little of the satisfaction of a certain farm organisation of which I am a member that the said Commissioner cried off attendance at a conference in Kilmainham because of the warm reception he could expect there. The farm organisations have about as much trust in the Commissioner sticking to the EU negotiating mandate in the WTO as Nationalists and republicans——