Alex White (Labour)

I accept fully that is the global amount. However, last week the Taoiseach said that what the Government needed to do now was to fill the gap of €2 billion. He proposed to do that, including a figure of €1.4 billion in respect of a pension levy. It now turns out that the amount to be yielded from the pension levy is not €1.4 billion, but €900 million. Rather than it being taken off the top or gross amount as announced, which would have yielded €1.4 billion, it now appears from the statements by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and others on radio and television that the levy is on the net amount and that it will only yield €900 million. If I am wrong about this, I will be happy to accept I am wrong, but will the Leader or Deputy Leader confirm for the House whether the figure to be raised is €1.4 billion or €900 million? We expect clarification and coherence from Government on what it proposes. People expect clarity and a responsible approach from the Opposition, but it must have some confidence the Government knows what it is doing and is clear on its proposals to be able to respond.

Will the Leader either arrange for a debate in the House on the question of the minimum wage or, if that is not appropriate given the issue is before the Labour Court, ask the Minister with responsibility for labour affairs to indicate what he intended this morning when he raised the question of the minimum wage in the manner he did? It appeared to me he was flying a kite and suggesting the Government believes the minimum wage should be reduced. If he was doing that, it appears he believes the minimum wage should be reduced, from €8.65 per hour, approximately €350 per week for a person on the minimum wage. In the context of the issues raised by Senator Frances Fitzgerald in respect of banks, does he seriously propose that the wages of people earning €350 per week should be reduced? Is that a Government proposal? The Minister of State made the extraordinary statement that it was not a matter for him, but that he would leave it to the social partners. It is a matter for him. What the level of the minimum wage should be is a matter of ministerial order. Again, rather than kites being flown, we want clarity and coherence from the Government as to what it believes.

Hopefully, we will have a debate on the issue of the recapitalisation of the banks at some point. I appeal to the Government to get things right when it brings its proposal to the House — the fifth proposal now relating to the banking crisis. It must provide clarity and be able to answer the fair question raised by Senator O'Toole. I have a sense of what the answer ought to be in that matter, namely, that if we recapitalise the banks and put State moneys into them, we must require, demand and achieve a sense of influence over what the banks do, short of taking equity in them. All the issues must be answered. I plead with the Government to get the answers together before it comes to the House, so that it knows what it is talking about. If that takes another week, that is alright.