James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I oppose the taking of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill tomorrow in light of what today's newspapers reports concerning €40 million of bonuses to bankers. The definition of a bonus is an additional payment for some form of extra achievement. What in the name of God have the banks achieved in recent years? Would AIB have been able to pay bonuses if taxpayers had not bailed out and recapitalised it? Why was this issue not negotiated and sorted out when the bank bailout was being given and the banks' loans were being guaranteed?

See this speech in context