Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We were told there was no run on Anglo Irish Bank, that there was no impropriety in the banks, and that the Government would deal with the matter of bonuses and so on. These things were untrue, as we now know, as there was a 25% run on Anglo Irish the week before the guarantee came through.

I am entitled to ask this question on behalf of the Irish taxpayer. Yesterday, the Government took €4,600 from middle income families - almost €100 per week - for mistakes made by the Fianna Fáil Party which caused the structural deficit in the economy. That fault was created by the policies of the Fianna Fáil Party but middle income families are being made to pay for it.

I want an answer to my question. How much does the Government expect the Irish taxpayer to have to pay for the acquisition of dodgy debts to banks? Is it €90 billion, €50 billion or €40 billion? The Government is asking us to give it another blank cheque. However, it cannot be trusted in dealing with banks. How much will it take from Irish taxpayers to bail out the banks for these debts?

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