Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

On the banks issue, the newspapers are full of talk about restructuring of the banks and about the extent to which the banks will be in public ownership. We were told some months ago that we had the final recapitalisation figure. It was a lot of money and was in the order of €50 billion, but we are now being told a loan or overdraft will have to be drawn down from the European Union in order to put money into the banks.

I will not come back to the Taoiseach if the figure he provides is not spot-on but I believe the House and people are entitled to hear at least the ballpark figure for what will be required by the banks out of the €85 billion. I and most commentators assume that most of the €85 billion will be required for the banks. It would be preferable and helpful and would add a little certainty to the public discussion if the Taoiseach gave at least give a ballpark figure for what the banks will require rather than having commentators here and elsewhere speculating today and over the weekend on the amount required, given that this is the last day on which the Taoiseach will be answering questions in the House before next week.

See this speech in context