Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I join those who called on the chief executive officer of Irish Nationwide to return his bonus. Serious questions must also be asked about his pension fund. I acknowledge he is a man who has done a lot over the years to build up the mutual society and that he deserves quite a bit of credit for it. Unfortunately, what has happened brings the whole system into disrepute.

When Senator Boyle was speaking, Senators on the other side of the House were agreeing with him and taking up his invitation. The leaders of this House should table an agreed motion whereby the House would call unanimously on the chief executive officer to do the appropriate and right thing in the circumstances. That is very important when starting to restore equity and public confidence.

Will the Leader allow a debate at an early stage on banking? We have all heard the absolutely true assertions of excessive payments being made but all plcs have questions to answer on their remuneration and on the cosy operations within board rooms that give rise to extraordinary payments to chief executives and higher executives. This disadvantages shareholders.

I join those speakers who asked that there be a rethink within trade union circles on the general strike. It smacks of economic suicide. I can understand the position and the difficulties that arise and I can also understand why highly paid people within the unions feel it necessary to take a populist line, perhaps to protect their own positions as much as those of their members. The people who will suffer from the general strike first are the unions' members in the private sector through increased unemployment as we start sending out negative signals that this is not an employer-friendly location in which to do business. The very people who are prompting the strike in the public service could be the main sufferers from the reaction to what will happen here.

I watched a very good programme last night on the BBC and it is a pity we cannot see it on our own national broadcaster.