Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The credibility of the Government, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance in respect of banking strategy is now in tatters. I am appalled at the number of cases I have already encountered this morning of people who are concerned that lending practices will now become even tighter and that credit will not be extended to business with obvious consequential difficulties. However, for the Government to say we can have a debate in the House until 3.30 p.m. without allowing for any questions or capacity to tease out what is a national crisis is incredible. I propose that we do not accept the proposed Order of Business and that the time be extended until at least 6 p.m. and that time possibly be allowed tomorrow. Every single Member, be he from Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, the Labour Party or Sinn Féin, or an Independent, is entitled to his say on what the Taoiseach has led us into.

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