Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

First, as a Deputy who has been around here a long time and on committees a long time, I am tempted to say how much I agree with Deputy Michael D. Higgins. There will be at least 50 backbenchers in Fianna Fáil who will expect to survive by virtue of their work on the committees. We need to make the committees meaningful. Whatever about issues on which the Taoiseach has his mind made up, they must be made meaningful, as Deputy Higgins requests.

Recently there was a run on the Northern Rock bank and the British authorities stepped in to provide deposit protection and indicated they will provide deposit protection up to seven and a half times that which is enjoyed in Ireland by depositors. We need to move rapidly so we do not leave Irish savers exposed and so we do not see Irish savers considering moving to a different jurisdiction to get protection. Can the Taoiseach indicate that there is consideration of a new deposit protection scheme for Irish savers so we match what is available?

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