Sean Barrett (Independent)

I support the comments of Senator O'Brien on the bonus culture. The bonuses paid in 2010 were presumably decided in 2009, a year in which GNP declined by 9%. I wonder what planet the people who decided to give bonuses were on when the rest of us were experiencing such a huge decline in income.

On No. 3 on the Order Paper, the request to the President to sign the Bill we discussed yesterday early, unfortunately, de jure, nothing happened yesterday. The Government got everything it wanted. De facto, we had a very useful engagement with the Minister performing a vital role in our national recovery and whose enthusiasm we were all impressed by. Parliamentary scrutiny and the role of Uachtarán na hÉireann should not be reduced to an administrative afterthought. I ask the Deputy Leader to communicate to the Government what I understand is her view as well, namely, our wish to play a full role in the national recovery and request that legislation be prepared in a timely way to allow for full consideration and scrutiny by Seanad Eireann and Uachtarán na hÉireann.