Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

That is the most important thing. How far back do people think the country would be if we awoke this morning, in the absence of the State guarantee that has been offered in the way it has been offered, to find a failed banking system on our hands? What would be the situation then for Irish people or Irish workers? There are corporate organisations which must get access to funds, as well as employers and businesses which must get access to funds on an ongoing basis to conduct their business.

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