Dáil debates

Thursday, 5 November 2009

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage

 

11:00 am

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I confess to being very worried at this point. The Minister has more or less clapped everybody on the back on this side of the House. Deputy Fahey even thinks it a good debate at this stage. With all those references to religious orders, if I regarded myself as a Catholic, I would be examining my conscience at this stage. I am sure it would come out as positive.

The Minister in his final few words really brought this whole NAMA business back to basics. I am sure the person in Deputy Terence Flanagan's constituency was deadly sincere when he asked for a NAMA for ordinary people. That is what is missing in this Bill, and it is why some of the amendments seek to pull it over the line. While we would still be absolutely opposed to the Bill, we would then at least see something in it for ordinary people and some level of accountability. We could all agree on changing procedures slightly to be able to deal with this debate constructively.

The Minister said the guidelines would be made available to the House. Does he mean at some future point or before this Bill is disposed of? When will his guidelines be made available? His contribution was positive in regard to these matters but not emphatic enough. Perhaps he could give us some indication now as to what he is minded to do with regard to these guidelines. While it would not be worth the paper it is written on, it would at least be on the record. The Minister's amendment will give him a significant opportunity to bring forward what I would regard as fairly enabling guidelines, but I would like to hear more about them.

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