Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach says he wishes the banks would do more. If only he were Head of Government, perhaps it would all be sorted. The banks only wish for the Taoiseach to leave them alone. It is likely, given the Government's response tonight, that this is exactly what will happen until such time as a new Administration is elected. Unfortunately for hundreds of families, that will be too late.

The insolvency service has had a miserable take-up, as is clear from its own figures. That is not down to poor marketing or lack of public awareness; it is because people are not fools. The public knows the banks hold all the cards in this game. When the insolvency legislation was being debated, this point was made by Sinn Féin and those who work with people in debt. However, removing the banks' veto would inconvenience those institutions, and this Government was never going to do that.

All members of the finance committee signed off on a report outlining good, sensible suggestions on how to tackle this crisis. No sooner was that report launched than Government Members started to run for cover. They washed their hands of it and the Government carried on facilitating the banks in whatever way they could.

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