Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Maybe two in some places. We are talking about a reduction of €10 a week. This was a serious problem at the talks for the lower paid in the public service. They will benefit from their pensions to the extent of 40/80 of their salaries, which is 50%, and it is index linked for the rest of their lives. It is only very young people, I understand — a small percentage — who are affected by this proposal. Everyone in the country wants corrective measures taken today. Everyone in the responsible media has been pontificating on this over recent months.

The Taoiseach now has a fair idea of the extent to which certain activities were going on in the banking sector over many years — indeed, it seems now, even more than many years. Now that everything has come to light and the Government has its directors in place in the various banks, the fight back can start. The corrective measures needed will now be put in place, and I hope this day, the feast day of St. Blaise, will be remembered as the day on which we began our comeback on behalf of the future generations of Ireland. It is in that regard that I am making the proposal to the House that next Thursday, all day and late into the evening if required——