Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I am almost sorry the Minister of State has sat down. He spoke about fringes and grey areas and spoke about Anglo Irish Bank at arms length. The only way to use the word "arm" when referring to Anglo Irish Bank is to say that the bank has the poor unfortunate taxpayer and public servant in an arm lock. It has its arm around the necks of every public servant and taxpayer in the country. It is in the process of strangling whatever bit of economic life is left in the public servants and taxpayers. The Minister of State described the issues around Anglo Irish Bank as a grey area or a fringe event. It seems at times we are talking-----

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