Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I still do not understand the Government's national strategic approach in regard to this package of three-part legislation. Ordinary people have lost their jobs, many who invested in bank shares have lost their pensions, firms are starved of credit and Fianna Fáil has rescued the banks. It is only a €75 billion to €80 billion bill, but we are all right now and it is onwards and upwards or, as the Taoiseach would say, "going forward into the future".

It is difficult to understand where the governing party is at this point. We have had a series of rolling scandals for the past week or two in regard to the bankers and the fact they remain determined to have their way. Both the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, have agreed that the bankers can have their wish, which is to return to business as usual as fast as possible. As Mr. FitzPatrick famously said, he would not say "Sorry" but he would say a big "Thank you" to the Irish taxpayers. We have not moved on from that position because the people sitting on the other side of the House are determined to protect their cronies in the banking and development system.

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