Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, Dr. Somers is quite right. Some 99% of people are honourable and decent and want to pay back what they can. It is therefore up to both parties to sit down and work out what can honourably be repaid over income expectations. We are all agreed on that.

However, as the bank with which we have met and conversed, I am asking AIB to spearhead the requirement of the effort in that negotiation with the banking sector's creditors, because we have run out of money. As Dr. Somers said, the pension fund that was built up for the people of Ireland has decreased. They stupidly raided it. They gave Wilbur Ross 35% of the other bank for €1 billion, when our State paid €5 billion for 15% of the bank. A junior certificate student would know that is stupid.