Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is not agreed. Ireland wakes up this morning to another national crisis. People find themselves owning another bank when most people only wish to own their own homes. The Order of Business as presented by the Government is a typical response that constitutes business as usual. However, it is not business as usual. While the Taoiseach never has had any willingness to change the manner in which this House does its business, now is the time for real action in the context of what is a national crisis. This morning, the Minister for Finance stated that the people could rightly be angry at bankers who had involved themselves in reckless lending practices. People also should be and are very angry at the political process that allowed this to happen. I saw a report the other day of a man who was jailed for the non-payment of a fine of €250. However, one sees what happens both here and abroad, with people who were involved with Anglo Irish Bank and in other reckless lending practices swanning around as though it were business as usual.

The situation with which we are faced today means that the banking strategy pursued by the Government and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is now in shreds. This banking strategy has closed Ireland off to the markets and now is a clear indication beyond yea or nea-----

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