Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We put forward a position - that is, the establishment of NAMA - that was not supported by the other parties. NAMA puts banks in a better position to access funds and provide credit to viable businesses and households because it will increase investor confidence in the banks through the removal of risky assets and improve liquidity through the exchange of illiquid assets - that is, the loans - for more liquid assets, namely bonds.

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