Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

The Minister indicated the changes will apply to students sitting the leaving certificate this coming June. The various proposals should be put to the House so Members can thrash them out and inform the Minister's decision. Perhaps the Leader would arrange such a debate.

There must be a discussion on the issue of Ministers of State and the golden handshake they have received. It is incredible the Government has learned no lesson from its mishandling of the economy and the anger of the public. While pensioners and social welfare clients have been denied a Christmas bonus, Ministers of State, some of whom have served less then two years, will receive a severance package of more than €500 for every week they held their positions while still in employment and earning a full Deputy's salary and expenses. It is no wonder there is such outrage. We should not have to have this debate because the issue should never have arisen, but something must be done. We need to discuss the important issues, such as the banking crisis and the national assets management agency, NAMA.

I am glad to hear other political parties coming to the view, which we have argued in this House and in the Dáil for many years, for a nationalised bank. I am not speaking of Anglo Irish Bank, which is the developers' bank, but a proper bank such as Bank of Ireland or AIB. This would meet the needs of customers and businesses. I am glad to hear that view emerging from some of the other political parties.