Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make an additional point. I accept the logic of companies being able to bring losses forward for the reason outlined by the Minister. He suggested that it does not take place over one year, etc. However, the Minister seems to be studiously avoiding the point that in this case these were not the banks' losses, but public losses. The public paid for these first time around. By the time we head for the 20 year mark, it will be a post-privatisation scenario if the Government and Fianna Fáil, presumably, have their way. That will mean the public effectively pays again in terms of not getting tax. It is a double bailout for the banks paid for by the taxpayer. This is not a normal situation. It is an extraordinary situation because of the bank bailout. That is the reason for the call for the Minister not to respond by simply saying that the rules operate in this way because this is not a normal situation.