Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

In the debate on NAMA, which took place over recent days, a great case was made for the need to do something for hard-pressed people in negative equity who are in trouble with their mortgages. The Government is seeking to make cuts of €4 billion in the budget and perhaps cuts of €1 billion to the capital programme. At the same time we are making provision for the payment of fees of €2.5 billion to those working for NAMA. I gave a breakdown of these fees yesterday. A senior adviser is paid €3,000 per day and a junior adviser is paid €800 per day.