Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

If the Minister agrees to come to the House, I might be satisfied. Let me ask the question. The Minister did not answer it first time around and I am sure the Ceann Comhairle will not tolerate another intervention from me. The Minister intends to establish rules for dividends which we will not see as they have not yet been established or presented. We ought to see them as they are intimately tied up with recapitalising the banks.

I understand the Minister is taking up the floorboards with the loan books of the banks and will examine the banks' capitalisation. I presume the Minister will examine the higher capitalisation ratios now required in other countries. We must have a Government strategy for this. The alternative is that the taxpayer is landed into putting real money on the table without the House knowing the Government strategy, or having the confidence that the Government is designing a strategy to deal with the situation. There is an onus on the Minister to come to the House within a short period to show the Government has a strategy, that its homework is done and that there is a strategy bearing in mind the changed circumstances.

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