Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I do not wish to discuss the contents but with regard to the Bill, and to having Members of the House fully informed on issues of importance in its regard, will the Minister make available to Members on this side of the House any legal advice available to the Government concerning the approximate €30 billion borrowings in respect of assets outside the State? Will we be informed about any difficulty this agency might encounter in taking ownership or possession of the assets that are secured against these borrowings and realising those assets? That is a particularly important issue.

With regard to bailing out the banks, which is what this legislation is intended to do, does the Government intend, either within it, or in a separate Bill, to introduce legislation to compel the banks to facilitate the many thousands of people who acquired property in this State at the height of the property boom between 2004 and 2007? They are now imprisoned on fixed interest mortgages and the banks will not allow them switch to variable rates without paying exorbitant penalties.

See this speech in context