Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I renew my calls for a debate on wage structures following yesterday's budget. I was pleased to see that a maximum wage in the public service was introduced by the Minister in the budget. I called previously for the maximum wage to be linked to the minimum wage, but that was not done. I was looking for a linking of eight times the minimum wage. The figure of €250,000 is between 14 and 16 times the minimum wage, depending on what the minimum wage is. It is important to have a debate on this because it affects many people.

Senator Leyden spoke about a debate on the abolition of the Seanad. It is important to have that debate. I would personally advocate reform rather than abolition. If we had a referendum on the abolition of the Dáil right now, there is a possibility it would pass. A knee jerk reaction on the abolition of the Houses of the Oireachtas is not a good idea. Clear reform is what we need.

Finally, I support the call by Senator O'Toole for a full debate on the EPSON Act. The education debate is very important. We should bring the Minister to the House for a debate, but it is crucial that we have that debate in the context of the budgets that are realistically available for education. We should be able to implement the Act under any budgetary circumstances. It is in the renewed programme for Government. I accept that the progress on its implementation has not been what we would like to see, but we need to have discussions with the unions to ensure the Act can be implemented regardless of the budgetary situation, either now or in the future.