Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I submitted a parliamentary question that was declined either by the Minister or the Department in respect of Anglo Irish Bank bonds. Unlike Deputy Ó Caoláin I was not looking for information on the names of the bond holders but I was anxious to discover the number and value of bonds that matured and were redeemed at face value during the period of the two year guarantee, and also the number and value of bonds for which a negotiated price was achieved, I presume prior to maturity, during that two years. Why could that information not be released? No element of confidentiality is required. I was not looking for the names of the bond holders. That should be public information.

The taxpayers now own Anglo Irish Bank. It is significant information to them in the sense that they paid for those bonds. They are entitled to know how much was paid and how much was forgone by not negotiating a price. I understand why the Minister might not wish to give the information but it is not confidential.

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