Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Minister made reference in his main speech to the change of executives and boards at the top of the banks. I wish to ask the Minister about two positions I understand to be critical. One is chairman of the audit and compliance committee and the other is chairman of the risk management committee. Have those positions changed in the banks? I know for a fact they have not in one covered institution but I wonder if they have changed generally.

With regard to the exploding figures associated with Anglo Irish Bank, namely, €4 billion, €8.3 billion, €10 billion and €18 billion in terms of the purchase of the loans, something will be set off against them in terms of the valuation of the assets. Is the Minister standing by his position that he would find it unconscionable, in any circumstances, to consider alternatives to pouring money into Irish Anglo Bank in the context of an orderly wind-down of that institution?

I agree with what the Minister said about senior debt. Issues such as this are not the only issues involved. The figures have now exploded to such an extent that the difference between an orderly wind-down and maintaining the bank in some form is negligible. Therefore, since we are talking about a corporate strategy for a semi-State institution, is the Minister prepared to make available to us the documents that surround these questions? How else can we make an informed decision? On the matter raised by Deputy Burton, for example, can the Minister explain how the €8.3 billion to which he referred is in the accounts for 2009? I do not understand that; I am not alleging anything but asking the Minister to explain it.

See this speech in context