Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

We would all like to sympathise with the Minister on his recent sad bereavement on the death of his uncle.

There are a number of questions I would like to put to the Minister arising from the discussions since the announcement on "Black Thursday" of the level of the banking crisis. I will begin with my first question. On yesterday's Dáil record, the Taoiseach referred to the €31 billion in promissory notes, which the Minister initiated in respect of Anglo Irish Bank on his announcement on the Tuesday before Easter last, and which in the case of Anglo Irish Bank now amounts to €25 billion.

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