Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

——to deal with the global financial crisis, which is an exceptional and extraordinary situation. Up to then, the European Central Bank played a significant role in ensuring continuing liquidity for banks across Europe, and particularly for the Irish banks. Deputy Timmins mentioned Iceland and I respectfully suggest that we could have been in that space if it were not for the European Cental Bank and the role it played in assisting Ireland to overcome the challenges.

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