Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

She should take the example of private enterprise. Private enterprise is a very tough place to be. The job of people such as Seán Quinn, who start in business and make huge strides throughout their lives, having come from a small farm as he did, is very difficult. Seán Quinn is not the only such person in Ireland. I have no doubt Seán Quinn got trapped in a rat race to get to the top in his business during the time of the Celtic tiger. When one examines what happened to him, particularly with regard to banking and Anglo Irish Bank, who is to blame for it all? I state fairly and squarely it is the regulators who were put in charge of banking business over the years. We come to the House and blame small and big business and people who take risks, but we never have a go at or a chat with the civil servants who are paid huge salaries to look after these businesses.

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