Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

He should not be appalled, however, because it is a fact. If what I am saying is untrue, the obvious question we must pose is why the regulator and the governor were not fired for not doing their jobs. This country is in a woeful mess. The Minister for Health and Children told the House yesterday that the country is in a serious financial crisis. She is not in opposition, she is a member of the Government. She was working hand in glove for the past ten years with all the culpable institutions. For God's sake, when are we going to cop on to ourselves? Now the Government wants the Opposition to take them on trust and to follow the same road, but what guarantees do we get? The onus is on the Minister to explain that. The fellows sitting behind the Minister will not stand behind him for too long if things go down the river.

See this speech in context