Alex White (Labour)

Recommendation No. 3. I am proposing to insert a provision in section 3, rather than the stand-alone recommendation proposed on Committee Stage, to take account of some questions raised about its relevance and bring it more into line with the Bill in terms of its structure and scheme. It deals with the issue of information on bonuses being paid by the specified institutions. The Minister will see that we have adopted the phrase "specified institutions" which is in line with the provisions of section 3. We are also dealing with the limit of €20,000 because that is the figure provided for in the section. The recommendation is entirely in line with the scheme of section 3 and the Bill.

The basis for this proposal is that there should be information available to the Dáil on the bonuses being paid. I do not propose to rehearse the issues relating to bonuses as there is a wide degree of consensus on that substantive issue. This recommendation proposes that information be made available by the specified institutions to the Dáil not within 30 days as we originally proposed but within three months. In all the circumstances, I respectfully suggest this proposal is narrow enough in its remit and not something that could be regarded as disruptive to the workings of government. It would be a requirement imposed on the specified institutions to bring forward this information and submit it to Dáil Éireann. For that reason, I commend the recommendation to the House.