Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

My colleagues have touched on the considerable variety of challenges facing the country, with potentially 550,000 unemployed by the end of the year, the set-up of the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, and the future of rural life. A crucial question is the ability of the Government and politicians in general to lead the country through such considerable challenges facing us. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on the decisions that will be made in September on the salaries to be paid to senior figures in the public service. I look at the additional sums the Taoiseach and the Cabinet Ministers receive for the privilege of leading the country and I must question whether that really is appropriate given the challenges the country faces. What I would like to see happen is a move to a system where, for example, the Taoiseach gets paid an additional €30,000 for the privilege of leading the country, Cabinet Ministers get €20,000 and Ministers of State get €10,000 on top of the salary they receive as TDs. This may be a radical and severe change from the current position, but it is less radical and less severe than what is faced by many who the Government is looking to serve. I call for a debate on the salaries paid to such figures and the general question of how Government and politics in general can gain the credibility and support of the people to get through the significant changes ahead.

I second Senator Healy Eames's amendment to the Order of Business. I also agree with Senator Alex White on the comments of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. The archbishop appears to be ahead not only of elements within the church but of the Government in the call he made yesterday and that would merit debate in the House.