Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Burton raised a matter that I should have dealt with in my previous reply. The guarantee given under the scheme will be commercially valued and is a commercial transaction. Deputy Burton detected some confusion in my remarks in respect of that guarantee and another guarantee. The guarantee referred to in the interpretation section can be a wider guarantee supported by Central Bank security in an operation in which the Minister or the NTMA were engaged in the reconstruction of a bank or a specific institution in difficulty. That is the aspect of the legislation in respect of which I do not contemplate exercising powers but it is included for that purpose.

I thank the Members for their attendance and the interest they have shown in this legislation. I appreciated the agreement between the parties to proof the different sections of the Bill. Often, in these exercises so many sections are never considered and there is always a hazard in rushed legislation. At least, we have had the opportunity to tease out the implications of each section. I am grateful to the spokespersons for facilitating a discussion of that character on the Bill. In general, I will listen to the concerns reflected by Deputies and I will ensure the scheme reflects the concerns in so far as a scheme under this Bill can. I thank Members for their co-operation in this matter.

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