Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Deputy Higgins is welcome back. In his absence there was no difference between a day in Hibernia and a day anywhere else. It has been 144 hours or, as the Deputy notes, six Hibernian days and nights since the Government took office. Maybe if the Deputy had not been sent away to Europe by the voters on the last occasion, he might have found out what happened. I would like to know myself, actually. He might have a word with the former Minister for Finance when he leaves the Chamber to find out exactly what happened. As the Deputy knows, there is to be a parliamentary inquiry - with which, no doubt, he will assist - to determine what came about.

I have held the view for a long time that it was always unfair to expect the Irish taxpayer to fork out 100% of the cost of the consequences of reckless banking. I still hold that view. The discussions that took place last Friday, yesterday and today, and will continue next week, will centre specifically on this issue. Our taxpayers have taken a major hit due to this crisis, which was brought about by the previous Government of Fianna Fáil and the Green Party. The economic burden on our people is already severe. It is not that we want to get into a programme; we are in a programme - the IMF-EU deal - which is exceptionally challenging and has seriously dented our sovereignty, and which requires us to make reports each week. I repeat that no further moneys, beyond what is already committed, should go to the banks without some sharing of responsibility by those who have involvement in a number of categories. If other European countries do not want to proceed with that, or have a different view, these are the areas on which the discussion will be centred. My focus is on obtaining an improvement in the terms of this deal for the Irish people, and that is where my focus will remain.

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