David Norris (Independent)

When I heard this morning that the Health Service Executive is in a state of distraction and paralysis over the significant question of how many electricians it takes to change a light bulb, I wondered again whether this is the flying island of Laputa or just a bad joke. I understand that a garda will be made privy to these special provisions. We know that gardaí are unusual people because we have discovered that a garda who ran over somebody at 4.30 a.m., having consumed, on his own admission, three pints of stout and at least two bottles, was then taken 14.5 miles by his colleagues to be breathalysed by them and found not to be over the limit. Gardaí need extra pensions because they are very unusual people.