Joe Behan (Wicklow, Independent)

It is my belief, for what it is worth.

One thing which is now becoming very clear, apart from the clarity around how much money this will cost the State, which will possibly be up to €50 billion that we may or may or may not get back, from listening to the Governor of the Central Bank on the news today is that the representatives of the Government, the Central Bank and others were mislead by the banking institutions of this country. It is clear that the mess we are in now is partly because the full facts were not given to the Government at the earliest stages by the banks. That is a very serious matter because the people are Ireland are going to pay for it, if it was deception.

I know the Minister will answer questions at the end of this debate. I would like the Minister to answer a number of questions. Was he misled at any stage in this process over the past two years by senior management or bank directors of the main banking institutions in this country? If he was misled, in what way was he misled? I would also like him to identify those people who misled him, if they did so. Has he or does he intend to call in any of the law enforcement agencies to investigate the manner in which he may have been misled. We are all entitled to that information.

It has also been indicated by the Minister for Finance today that the Government will shortly prepare a four year strategic plan to help us out of the great hole we are in. I want to put my position on the record on this. I will scrutinise that plan whenever it is brought before the Dáil with great care and attention but I could not, at this point in time, pledge my support for a plan which is not founded on basic principles of social justice. I hope that when decisions are made which will bring us along the next step of this path that the cares and concerns of the most marginalised people in the country are foremost in the minds of the members of the Cabinet.

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