Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I must make a declaration of interest. A member of my immediate family owns shares in Anglo Irish Bank.

I cannot understand why the Minister will not accept this reasonable amendment. It is not a partisan amendment but seeks to establish the facts and truth in this affair. It seeks to investigate how we arrived at a point where a major economic institution has brought discredit on the entire Irish banking system. The markets want certainty and to know the facts. The domestic and international financial markets do not believe what is happening with the Irish banking system. They have been consistently refusing to accept the assurances of various commentators on behalf of the different banks. The Minister knows that too.

The appointment of an inspector may not address the immediate issue. However, to use the famous words of the late Mr. Justice Hamilton who presided over the beef tribunal, if Ministers had answered questions in this House, the establishment of the tribunal would not have been necessary.

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