Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

----- and which Mr. Aynsley, the chief executive states "will never be seen again". The alternative is for the Government to change its policy by making some of those lenders and investors share the pain equally. It then would be able to hold onto some of the aforementioned 40,000 jobs that could be created. In addition, it could bring about a situation in which income could be generated to pay back those debts. It makes absolutely no sense for the Government to continue with the policy of borrowing money to put into a black hole in the fear that its investors and lenders will not do so again.

I again ask whether the Taoiseach accepts that Mr. Aynsley's assertion at the Oireachtas committee that the vast majority of this money "will never be seen again" is the reality? Moreover, does he accept that no one is talking about an immediate liquidation of Anglo Irish Bank and that he should now change policy? He should forget about the shorter picture and should consider the longer picture of retaining 40,000 jobs. As Mr. David Begg stated yesterday, "The only sustainable route out of this crisis is through job protection and the creation of new work opportunities". I suggest to the Taoiseach, and will support him in this regard, that new work and job creation opportunities exist and they will be realised through more infrastructural investment.

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