Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

With the greatest of respect, the problem the Ceann Comhairle has with this being raised on the Order of Business pales into insignificance compared to the problem the taxpayers of the country have in paying for this cesspit of a bank. We need to know where exactly the Government is on this issue now. The bank was guaranteed and then it was nationalised. The Government has been back to the House on several occasions looking for money and more money. Thousands of millions of euro was sought time after time to pour into the bank. As Deputy Kenny stated the last time the Government came back looking for the House to approve money for this, we were told there was no question of winding down this bank. Yesterday, the Minister for Finance signalled that is now under consideration. We hear there are considerations in the Commission in Brussels in respect of what the Government is doing.

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