Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With respect, I will not take a lecture on parliamentary democracy. I am simply making the point that we have to come forward here to deal with a real situation that must be dealt with. This country, no more than any other, must deal with it a situation which was global in nature. We must make our financial institutions fit for purpose and we must recapitalise. There is a statement to be made in the House by the Minister for Finance for that purpose and I do not wish to delay him in doing so.

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