I congratulate Senator Barrett on the very significant Private Members' Bill he brought before the House last evening. I hope that Bill will make a significant contribution to the regulation of the banking sector here in the future. I agree with previous speakers that no one can stand over the obscene salaries being paid to some bank officials. In that context, many previous speakers referred to the over €800,000 being paid to one individual. When the banks submit their proposed cuts of 6% to 10% to the Minister for Finance next week, I hope these will contemplate very significant reductions in the salaries of the highest paid officials in the banking sector. I call on bankers to put the country first for once and to make very significant adjustments to their salaries.

Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Health in respect of the cost to the health service of the treatment of alcoholism? It is reported in this morning's edition of my local newspaper that €22 million - €4.4 million per year - has been spent in this regard in the past five years at University College Hospital Galway and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. The amount in question equates to 35,000 bed days. Mr. Joe Treacy, a well known addiction counsellor and secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, has stated that the easy availability of alcohol in every supermarket and superstore throughout the country is making a significant contribution to the problem of alcoholism. This fact, along with the amount of advertising in respect of alcohol products, must be addressed. At a time when we are enduring the worst recession in the country's history and when people's finances are under severe pressure, it is incredible that there has been a significant increase in the amount spent on alcohol. Increasing numbers of people are being treated in hospital in respect of the abuse of alcohol.

It is time we revisited this matter and the Minister for Health must be involved and must provide information on the costs incurred in respect of it by the health service. We must address issues such as availability, the display of alcohol products in supermarkets and advertising. Many Senators have raised these issues in the past but it is time to take the matter seriously in light of the figures which have become available today.

Yesterday was a particularly good one for the House. I add my voice to those of others who congratulated Senator Barrett not only on what was a very good debate on the banking sector and financial stability but also on the fact that the Minister did not, as had been planned, vote against the Bill. This serves as a reminder of what this House can do and of the skills and abilities possessed by its Members. The debate on Senator Barrett's Bill was one of a number of extremely useful debates which took place here yesterday.

I met a man yesterday who informed me about the benefits of which he had availed by virtue of being able to tap into his additional voluntary contributions, AVCs, following a provision in that regard which was included in the budget. The individual in question was able to eliminate his credit card debt and pay his daughter's secondary school fees. I mention this matter because the suggestion that people be allowed to access some of the moneys they paid in the form of AVCs originated in this House. This is another reminder of the value of the Seanad. I hope the Government recognises the benefit of having individuals such as Senator Barrett and others here because they are able to make suggestions which benefit the community in general.

The man to whom I refer only took €10,000 out of his AVCs as a result of the strict limits which apply. Denmark adopted a similar approach in 2007. Allowing people to access their pensions in this way on an open-ended basis has given rise to huge benefits for that country's economy. I request that the House engage in a debate on this subject at some point in the near future in order that we might encourage the Government to consider what has happened in other jurisdictions. In Denmark, the economy took off and people were able to access their money, invest and spend it and open small businesses. We could engage in a debate on this matter which would be similar to the one initiated by Senator Barrett during Private Members' time last night.

I compliment Senator Barrett on the Bill he introduced yesterday and on the literature relating to it which he circulated to all Members and which explained its contents in very simple terms. I was on the point of standing up and apologising to the Senator for the fact that the Government was most likely not going to accept the Bill and for the nonsense whereby while I agreed with the legislation, I was going to be forced to vote against it. Before I could do so, however, I noticed further nonsense whereby a Minister of State who appeared to be very interested in the Bill and who engaged with those on all sides was obliged to leave and was replaced by another Minister of State who knew nothing about the debate which had taken place during the previous 90 minutes. If the Seanad is to have a future, then the Whip system must be sorted out. In addition, the type of thing to which I refer in respect of last night's debate should not be allowed to happen.

There was a ferocious culture of lending during the period leading up to the banking crisis. I cannot remember a day during that time when I did not return home from work to find a letter addressed to my wife in which she was being offered loans of €30,000 or €40,000 to replace our car, remodel our kitchen or whatever. All she would have been obliged to do to obtain one of those loans was sign her name beside the big red X. It is no wonder that the culture to which I refer gave rise to the crisis with which we are now dealing. I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien that when bankers are paid €800,000 per year, it is difficult to see that culture changing. I am of the view that the culture in question is going to be with use for a long time.

Before the Cathaoirleach asks, there are two questions I wish to pose.

I was just going to ask the Senator about that matter.

I am ahead of you this time. I have two questions.

Very briefly.

I have never heard anyone answer these two questions, and they are simple questions. Given the fact that we have recapitalised the banks, have we any say in the running of the banks? It is a simple question. We have put 15% into Bank of Ireland. We are allowing a man to earn €800,000 per year. Have we any say in how the bank does its business? The second question relates to the money we put into these banks. Will we ever get it back? Is there a clause such that when they start making profits, we get it back? I want to make one further point in this regard.

The Senator is way over time.

I am sorry about that. Can I make one point? I am aware of someone who owes the Bank of Scotland €400,000. It is willing to accept €150,000 and walk away and leave this woman with a property that is worth €150,000, as long as she can simply find €150,000. However, no Irish bank will give her €150,000.

I call Mary Ann Senator O'Brien.

I would like the Bank of Scotland's telephone number.

This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.