Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

We, on this side of the House, are trying to restore the integrity of the banking system. Internationally, our banking system is regarded appallingly. I refer to all the banks and the Financial Regulator. What we propose is very straightforward. The Government is charged with looking after the taxpayers' money. The ten individuals associated with the Anglo Irish Bank loans were called the "ten green bottles" this morning. When the bank was being nationalised and when recapitalisation in the order of €1.5 billion was being considered, the Government knew that €300 million, or €225 million, depending on the figure being quoted, was not going to be recovered.

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