David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----and I forgot to mention a particular concern I have, again, on section 11, subsection (9), of the Bill. It states, "The Commission may, out of the resources at its disposal, pay to a person, consultant or adviser referred to in subsection (7) such fees (if any) or allowances for expenses (if any) as the Commission may, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, determine." There are quite a lot of qualifications there. Senator McDowell has said that if the lay members are paid €9,000 it is a joke. I have an even better joke; the Bill states "if any". That is a better joke than €9,000 because one is paying them sweet damn all. The Bill proposes that the commission may pay "such fees (if any) or allowances for expenses (if any)". It is envisaged, therefore, that the commission may pay them absolutely nothing.