Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Coghlan seems to be saying I am a bad cop. I welcome Mr. Duffy and his colleagues. The big issue in the media in regard to AIB is the question of getting back taxpayers' €21 billion. It is difficult to lose sight of the sheer magnitude of that sum. To give it some context, the budget of the Department of Education and Skills is €8 billion while that of the Department of Justice and Equality is €4 billion or so. It is an incredible sum which, if it were available to the Exchequer, could be used to great benefit for ordinary people. The board of directors must have discussed the approach it would like to pursue to get that money back. Has consideration been given to appointing investment advisers or anything like that in anticipation of going to the market? I would like to hear where the board stands on this.