Senator Mark Daly has a habit of putting his foot in it and he has certainly done so today in talking about the Taoiseach's salary which is 40% lower than that of the last two Fianna Fáil Taoisigh. The Taoiseach is earning €100,000 less than the last two Taoisigh from the Senator's party. Instead of criticising the salary of the Taoiseach, the Senator should have chosen a different subject.

Senator Mark Daly was just looking for a cheap headline.

The Low Pay Commission was the issue I raised.

The Senator was talking about austerity.

Senator David Norris was 100% right. Senator Mark Daly was just looking for red top tabloid headlines from the tripe we had to listen to from him about salaries.

For those on the minimum wage, the Taoiseach is earning ten times the salary-----

If somebody on the minimum wage was listening to somebody on ten times his or her salary, he or she would not think the Taoiseach was worth it, not when he was cutting social welfare payments and the fuel allowance.

Please allow the Leader to continue, without interruption. The Senator should allow him to reply to the issues raised on the floor of the House.

The other subject Senator Mark Daly had the gall to raise was the minimum wage. Fianna Fáil told the Government when it took office that it could not do anything about the minimum wage or change anything the troika had done. The first thing the Government did was increase the minimum wage. The Senator ought to start picking his subjects with a little more care. It is just as well that he is not in that seat very often and that he has only been given the opportunity to occupy it a couple of times. He is making a mockery of Fianna Fáil with his comments.

The cuts made in the last budget affected those on the minimum wage far more than the top earners. That is a fact.

The Leader to continue, without interruption, please.

Senator Mark Daly is making a mockery of his party with the issues he has raised on the Order of Business today.

Senator Ivana Bacik made reference to the Low Pay Commission, which starts its work today.

We all welcome the fact that the commission is up and running. Senator Cáit Keane asked that it examine the child care sector. I am sure that is one of the sectors that will be included in its deliberations.

Senator Ivana Bacik welcomed the surrogacy proposals made by the Department of Health. I am sure we will discuss the heads of the Bill, if not the legislation, in the autumn session.

The Senator also sought a debate on schools admission policies. As she rightly stated, the Minister for Education and Skills has indicated that legislation will be forthcoming on this matter. Therefore, we will have ample time to discuss it.

Senator David Norris looked at the political reality and stated we needed a firm hand on the tiller. He mentioned this yesterday also. Although he has difficulties with many Government policies, he believes it should be returned on the basis of the work it has done in the past four years to put the country on the road to recovery and secure that recovery.

Senators Hildegarde Naughton and Michael Mullins outlined the difficulties being experienced in the accident and emergency department of University Hospital Galway and welcomed a new submission from the HSE on investment in a new department because the current unit is not fit for purpose, given the increased numbers attending. I am sure the submission will be received favourably by the Government.

Senator Michael Mullins also welcomed IDA Ireland's new strategy. Its forecasts for the next few years are encouraging. The Senator lauded the work our embassies and ambassadors were doing to promote trade. Recently the Irish ambassador to the United Kingdom stated the work of ambassadors had changed so much over in recent years. Previously, they would have dealt with foreign matters but now they are much more involved in the trade sector and promoting Ireland as a good place in which to do business. That is paying dividends for the economy.

Senator Paschal Mooney referred to the need to remain competitive in the hotel sector. He is correct in that regard. He lauded the Government for retaining the 9% VAT rate, which has proved to be beneficial for hotels and the tourism and hospitality sectors. According to CSO data published today, the number of persons employed in the accommodation and food services sector stands at 138,400, which represents an increase of 1.2% or 1,600 in the seasonally adjusted figures compared to the corresponding period in 2013. The tourism sector is a good news story and we can do even better in the coming years, but I take on board the Senator's comments that we need to be ever mindful of competition and that prices need to be pitched at an appropriate level.

Senator Paul Coghlan responded to Senator Mark Daly and outlined that the Government was doing everything to secure our recovery. He noted that, as any economist would say, political instability would bring economic instability. Political stability brings economic stability, as has been the case in the past few years.

Senator Mary White mentioned the high percentage of people emigrating who, as she rightly pointed out, had jobs. They are leaving because the taxation system is killing them. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin voted against the increase in the standard tax rate band from €32,800 to €33,800 in this year's budget in both Houses.

Why are all the doctors and nurses emigrating?

The Senator cannot have it both ways. Fianna Fáil is a high tax party. The Government is trying to bring taxes down to keep young graduates at home and ensure they will not be subject to the marginal tax rate, which is €32,800 or €33,800 this year. I hope, following the next budget, the threshold will be increased again. That is the way to retain graduates. Taxation is the reason many of them emigrate.

Senator John Gilroy rightly pointed out that emigration figures were way down on previous years and long may that continue. Emigrants are returning from Australia and now companies are travelling there on recruitment drives to bring Irish people back.

The statistics show that they are not coming back.

The Leader to continue, without interruption.

Many of them will come back because of the stability we now enjoy. The country is in recovery; please God, it will continue to recover in order that we can get these people back. Fianna Fáil drove them out of the country, but we will bring them back.

The Leader did not answer the question about Irish Water and I demand an answer. He did not answer the question about the Taoiseach and his wage of €3,500 a week, while those on the minimum wage get nothing.