Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

On nationalisation, we have already taken over Anglo Irish Bank. It has received more than €4 billion in capital funding to date and has lost approximately €15 billion in deposits. The Central Bank has had to make up the majority of the difference through a €10 billion liquidity injection. If the State were to wind up Anglo Irish Bank, the cost to the taxpayer would be in the region of €64 billion. The same would apply in respect of the larger banks if nationalised, even on a temporary basis. In that context, it is riskier to go down that route.

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