Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They are the kinds of reforms that are needed. Instead of the reforms, however, we have the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin. He has so much respect for the Seanad that he is happy to look after senior civil servants and special advisers and break pay agreements in order that he can pay them as much as they want. As Senator Paschal Mooney said yesterday, however, the Minister will not even provide the necessary criteria for Members on all sides of this House to draw down the remuneration required for them to do their job. It is not a question of extra money but of providing the criteria which will allow them to be paid what they are supposed to be paid to do their job.

I am glad to have the opportunity to make these points, but what a waste of time and what a waste of space. The Seanad report is there and everybody knows what needs to be done, but the Minister insults us all by saying it is going to take years and we will need loads of consultation. Nothing will happen but we will spend so much on it. Senator Cáit Keane asked if there was a dedicated team working on this. Who are they and how many are there? What are they doing? What are their timelines? Are they reporting back? Do not tell me it is being done on the never-never.