Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

No. This relates to a debate on statements that the Minister made on "Black Thursday" about the banking situation. Members from all sides of the House spoke on this debate and we feel that the one hour time slot is completely inadequate. In addition, the Taoiseach said yesterday in the Dáil that the State now has a mortgage of €31 billion in respect of the promissory notes. The Department confirmed last night to The Irish Times that the cost of interest on that mortgage is €1.5 billion per year. This is an extra figure that was not known before and which emerged yesterday via the Taoiseach. It is absolutely essential that we have an extra hour for questioning. It would be fair to all Members who have spoken, so I hope the Government agrees to that.

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