Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is important today that we give effect to the policy decision taken. The draft of this legislation has been available since Thursday evening and the Opposition has received full briefings from the Department of Finance on many of the matters involved. In this regard I send correspondence to the party leaders out of a sense of responsibility that I have, no more than the party leaders, to ensure that the public commentary is such so as not to undermine stability in the financial system. That is the purpose for which I would communicate, on the basis of advice and the offer of a briefing from the Governor of the Central Bank to those who wish to take it in respect of correspondence I send. It is for that purpose and no other that I would act in this regard.

It is important to make the point that it is in the country's interest that legislation be passed through the House, that clarity and certainty be brought to the policy decisions as taken in respect of taking the further, decisive step to put this bank into public ownership. We will continue to have a debate on this and on banking policy generally. The Minister for Finance is more than ready to be available, through the committee system in the House——

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