Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I refer to the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. Will the Minister place the report in the Oireachtas Library now that the Anglo Irish Bank has been nationalised and is, therefore, the property of the people? At least, the House should have the privilege of examining it. The Minister stated that following nationalisation he brought to the attention of the board the issue of the €7 billion. Is it not strange that the first time the Minister decided to act on the matter was following the nationalisation? His officials had referred the matter to the Financial Regulator already, some three or four months earlier. Was the Minister in possession of a report from the regulator, prior to appearing before the House, regarding the proposals to nationalise Anglo Irish Bank, that might have been relevant to the Members of the House before they voted on the matter?

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