Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I wish to ask the Taoiseach once again about the establishment of the national asset management agency. Today we read in the newspapers that the Minister is proposing to set it up on a non-statutory basis. This is the most potentially high-cost institution ever created in this State. It is taking on €90 billion in loans, equivalent to 60% of our national income in impaired loans. The notion that this should be established without reference to the Dáil seems to me to be extraordinary and irresponsible. We cannot have an interim board entering into discussions and commitments that would compromise the position of the Dáil, in deciding on this issue——

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