Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Last September, when we discussed in the Chamber the response to the Anglo Irish Bank crisis, I got the impression from the Minister for Finance that the companies legislation would be amended to define the role of the public interest directors. Such an amendment would enable the public interest directors who have been appointed at a number of banks to fulfil their role. Under the legislation, their duty is to the shareholders, in a limited sense. I recall the Minister suggested in the debate that if such an amendment was necessary it would be made. When will it come before us? It will enable the public interest directors, for example, to respond to the absence of credit, which is one reason they were put in place.

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