Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Bankers have made millions of euro every year through reckless behaviour. A decision can be taken on their remuneration now. However, a report is in the Minister's drawer and the Cabinet will decide on it after the legislation is passed. A statement will be made but there will have been no debate in these Houses in which we can hold the Minister to account and ask him did he cut their wages from €7 million plus bonuses to a ministerial salary level. The decision on bankers' pay must be taken now.

I agree with Senator Harris to a certain degree that it is not just bank officials. Ministers, Deputies and Senators need to take serious cuts in salary. The matter over pensions and Members, as pointed out by Senator Twomey, is ridiculous. In my school in Donegal, a Deputy held down his teaching job and took the difference in salaries while denying somebody a full-time position. This was a Fine Gael Member but it happens with Fianna Fáil Members with former Ministers still drawing down pensions. These anomalies need to be stopped immediately.

The figures involved may seem minute and addressing them will not plug the hole in the projected €30 billion deficit by the end of the year. However, it will stem the anger felt by people outside this House. I am feeling this anger too because I can see the wrong direction in which this country is being lead. Why would people not be angry if the Government allows 5,300 people to live part-time in this country, earning money for themselves but not paying a penny in tax?

The Minister of State said he does not believe me that the Minister for Education and Science does not have a clue about the number of prefabricated schools in the State. I am glad the Minister of State referred to the article in the Irish Examiner. It was based on statistics gained last week by Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. The Minister only did a sample survey of 900 schools in the State when there are over 4,000 schools. Up to 93% of the schools had prefabricated units. In total, there were 2,605 prefabricated units. The Minister does not know the figure even though he has been investing €130 million in the past three years in this area. He does not have a clue where the buildings are located. We need Ministers to work through the night to bail out our children from the prefab classrooms. Let us show the same attitude that supported the bankers to these children who do not have a voice.

The Minister of State spoke about supporting the most vulnerable in society. Today, the people's money, to the tune of €7 billion, will be invested in the banks. Two weeks ago, savings of €7 million were made by the Government withdrawing special needs classes from special needs pupils. In the context of €7 million in savings in this area as against the €7 billion being given to the banks, we must ask who is vulnerable. Are the special needs of bankers more important than those of children? The Minister of State should not say the Government is protecting the most vulnerable and the weak. I am angry with regard to this matter. The Minister of State is aware that the children in question require special needs tuition but due to the fact the numbers of such children have fallen below a certain point, they will now be placed in mainstream classes. If the Government had closed 113 special needs classes two years ago and dispatched these children into mainstream classes, there would have been uproar and the Houses would have been obliged to debate the matter day and night. However, because the country is in such a mess, issues of this nature are not receiving a proper airing.

The Government must grab the bull by the horns and decisive action must be taken. People are sick and tired of waiting for reports and hearing about matters being placed on the long finger. Provision should be made in the legislation to cap the salaries of bank CEOs at the level which applies to Ministers. In addition, the bonuses these people received for the past three years should be taken back. They did not earn that money and what we should do is demand that they pay even more money back. These individuals behaved recklessly and they should not be in a position to retain the millions of euro they received in bonuses. In that context, it should not be forgotten that taxpayers are going to pay these people's wages for the next couple of years.