Mr. Dick Spring:

Just to add to what Dr. Somers said, I certainly welcome the Deputy's remarks. I am glad that the insolvency legislation is eventually getting through this House. I was hoping it would have happened a lot earlier because that is obviously the ultimate denouement of solving a lot of the problems which we are facing. As I said in my opening remarks, we now have 2,000 people addressing this situation. Given the combination of the public insolvency legislation and the forbearance that is on offer from the banks, we will get to grips with a very difficult problem.

We are starting on a second journey but we are now in a far better position. Our numbers are going in the right direction and, even if one looks at the losses over recent years, we are going in the right direction.

As regards the bigger issues the Deputy raised, I am not sure that Mr. Draghi would be overly impressed if I asked to meet him, but that is for another day. I accept that there are bigger questions to which the State must respond, as well.