Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I hope it will be a dignified occasion to which we can all rise. I look forward to contributing on that day.

I do not wish to reopen issues that have been dealt with already in Leaders' Questions but on the whole question of underwriting, EGMs, share issues or prospectuses having to be drawn up, there is a range of issues that must be dealt with under company law before that comes about. The idea that it will all happen over Christmas is not the full picture of the procedures in the event of a recapitalisation taking place in the banks and how State participation in such an event would proceed.

It does not add justified confidence to the system on the regulatory position where there are capital adequacy ratios that are sufficient to make contentions——

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