Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I want to make this point briefly. It is extraordinary that the biggest financial deal ever entered into by an Irish Government, on the back of the taxpayer, for unknown quantities of money should be entirely exempt from the right of those of us in this House or under freedom of information legislation to obtain information. This is in direct contrast to what happens in the US, where the maximum amount of information is made available, including particular facilities such as congressional oversight committees and freedom of information legislation. Part of the difficulty is that financially we are seriously impaired as a consequence of the Government's action. Taxpayers are seriously impaired and are paying extra taxes. This Government wants to have a complete blanket ban on giving information except the information it chooses to give.

I accept that Deputy O'Flynn is just in the Chair now but I have no idea why the Ceann Comhairle has made the ruling, given the extensive references in the Bill to the Central Bank and the Financial Services Authority of Ireland. They are mentioned all over this Bill, as are financial instruments and deposits etc., which are included in the guarantee scheme. There is also reference to the covered institutions, those subject to the guarantee and those not subject to the guarantee. The argument put forward by the Department of Finance is entirely specious and unfair. It is in the tradition of the Department of Finance to refuse any reasonable amendments to finance legislation on the grounds that the Department of Finance does not do amendments.

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