Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I will not defend for one moment bonuses paid to anyone in Anglo Irish Bank. As the Deputy well knows and acknowledged, the bonuses she refers to arose prior to 2009 and the nationalisation of that bank. Since that date bonuses have been ended. Those she refers to are bonuses that arose or were contractually committed to prior to 2009.

The Government is in the process of winding down Anglo Irish Bank. It was a toxic performer in the Irish economy and contributed greatly to the difficulties we now have. None of the board members who were there at the time of the difficulties that arose in 2008 and 2009 are in position now and there has been a complete change at board level. There is a continuing change in respect of the senior personnel in that bank and the Government is continuing with its programme to wind down the bank and minimise the cost to the Irish taxpayer.

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