Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The budget of 14 October will go down in history as a boomerang budget that has slapped Irish consumers and businesses in the face since it was first unveiled. It has also given the Government a few smacks on the face, to judge by its surprise at the angry pensioners outside the Dáil. Bringing forward the budget was a clever ruse by the two clever Brians. Old-age pensioners, school-children and taxpayers have been lamenting it ever since.

Not only have we a boomerang budget, but we have corporate raiders — private equity and hedge funds — waiting to take over our banks. What is the strategy? The Government yesterday announced new laws to ban beggars. What will the Minister do about delinquent bankers? He told us the sad scéal about how the bankers came cap in hand on 29 September to get a guarantee from the taxpayers. They now seem to be lining up to hand some of our banks over to venture capitalists who may be more like vulture capitalists.

This is the Minister's first time in the House in a long time. He has not advised the House of the current situation and he has not updated me on the position with the banks.

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