Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Dukes. I have a few items to deal with before we get things under way. Is it agreed that the opening statements made this morning will be published? Agreed. As this part of the meeting will conclude at 1 p.m., I must ensure that I will accommodate all speakers who present themselves. I propose that the first round of speakers from both the Government and Opposition sides be limited to 15 minutes and, depending on how time is being managed after that, I will readjust times, if necessary, to accommodate everyone.

Before calling on the first speakers, I wish to put in context what we intend to do this morning. The two other banks the joint committee will meet today and tomorrow, namely, AIB and Bank of Ireland. They will make presentations on how they intend to trade their way out of their current difficulties and get themselves operating independently from the State. The mission of Mr. Dukes's organisation is quite different, as it is about winding down this bank over the next ten years in a sustainable and orderly fashion and in such a manner that the minimum cost is accrued to the taxpayer. That is a summary of the presentation Mr. Dukes has given. In so doing, I seek a point of clarification in respect of Mr. Dukes's position in the bank. Is it as a public interest director or is there a public interest director on the board of Anglo Irish Bank, as there is on the boards of Bank of Ireland and AIB?