Shane Ross (Independent)

-----of what happens in this House. Indeed, I am doubtful that they take any notice of what happens in the Dáil either. These guys are pretty arrogant. If we hold a debate in which some Minister will tell us nothing can be done about the payment into Mr. Boucher's pension fund, I am not sure there is any point. It is all right to have a debate, but why not have some action? I do not accept the Government's statement that it can do nothing about this €1.5 million bonus. I suggest that the Government fire Mr. Boucher if he does not give the money back. The Government was very effective in removing Mr. Boucher's predecessor and the chief executive and chairman of AIB, as well as the chairman of Bank of Ireland. Why can it not fire the present chief executive, Mr. Boucher, in the same way?

It is a new ball game. Senator O'Toole was correct to compare the banks to the semi-State bodies. We own Bank of Ireland, in effect. The Government is in charge. It can dictate who is on the board and, by extension, who is the chief executive. Senator Leyden is correct. This guy is getting a payment which will give him a pension of over €350,000 per year.