Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

-----that the Dáil had made huge mistakes in letting power away from elected Members when it should be seeking to seize it back. On his very first test on this issue, he offers a toothless committee without a legislative basis or any expertise to underpin its work. It is the old mushroom treatment - keep them knee deep in manure and leave them in the dark. This is what he is offering the Oireachtas in the way it will oversee the NAMA exercise.

If Fine Gael makes up a government after the next election, it will establish a NAMA Oireachtas scrutiny committee on a statutory basis so that it can have proper powers and recognise the right of Members to oversee decisions.

See this speech in context