Feargal Quinn (Independent)

After 5 p.m. yesterday, the Revenue Commissioners published directions on their website regarding how companies should handle the 1% income surcharge after 1 January. It is eight weeks since the budget's announcement in that regard and only about two working weeks are left to implementation of that measure. The instructions are directed at the payroll sections of software manufacturers. As most companies use software to organise their payrolls, they have little time in which to put this into operation. Is it possible for the Revenue Commissioners to consider the difficulties that will be created in this regard?

I am concerned we have not held a debate on Ryanair's takeover bid for Aer Lingus. While they are private companies, the State has a substantial stake in Aer Lingus. I imagine that this matter has been debated by the Joint Committee on Transport, but I am not sure. As Senator O'Toole stated, many issues need to be debated here that we have not had an opportunity to debate. Although we referred to Europe and other matters today, we should take the opportunity to debate matters such as that. We all have views on whether the country would benefit more from a single large airline, whether it is called Ryanair or whatever, or from having greater competition.

Last Saturday, the Government acted very well in regard to the pork issue.