John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I will give Mr. Crowley a spread. The federation said nothing during the crisis. I looked over the things that were said during the crisis and the banking federation said nothing. No one within the banking sector cried stop. No one said that, although the banks were paying their membership fees, they were going off the rails a bit. I did not hear that. We will put that to one side because Mr. Crowley does not know. He was not there.

Let us look at what is happening now. I spoke to a woman today who has two or three kids. She is locked in her home because one of the banks is going to repossess. I have spoken to business people who cannot get loans. I have spoken to individuals who have lost their properties. I have read in the newspapers about banks and repossessions and the heavy-handed approach taken to these things. I did not hear the federation say a word to them. I know it is not there to police the banks but surely there is a moral obligation on it to tell the banks that we are trying to change the culture and that the right time to start is not in two years' time when the legislation or this or that review is done, but now. In a period when the banks are not being taxed and are making massive profits, they just might find some sort of moral compass. Would Mr. Crowley encourage them to search for that moral compass?