Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Up to this point the Minister of State has shown no concern for the plasterers, electricians or anyone else. He has had scant regard for the very people I referred to a few moments ago. Where is the NAMA for these the ordinary people? What is the Minister of State doing about them? He should not say he is worried about them because he is not. If they are cannon fodder to help bail out the speculators and developers, so be it. However, he cannot tell me this legislation is not a bailout for developers. It is in this legislation that speculators and developers will get funds from NAMA to bail them out. That tells me everything I need to know about the bailout aspect of this legislation.

Where are the crooks, particularly those in the banking sector, who were behind this scam? A visitor from space would be convinced these people would be jailed in Mountjoy or Portlaoise prisons but they are not. Instead, they are in their palatial homes swanning around in their jets and helicopters. This crisis is not impacting on them at all. We have even seen one of them walk away with a pension of €27 million and a €1 million bonus. When will see the result of inquiries into these characters? When will we see them held to account for their part together with the Government and the speculators who created this mess in the first instance?

I accept there is an international dimension to this financial crisis. However, we are in a much worse mess than any other country-----

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