Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Yes, we have been on these questions for the past 15 minutes. A recent ISME report on credit made it clear the banks are not doing their job in lending to business. Regarding mortgage holders, it is high time the banks were told they have an obligation to the taxpayer, not just to their shareholders alone. The Bank of Ireland stance is arrogant and thumbing its nose at the Government and the taxpayer.

When the Economic Management Council was established, every journalist in town was told it would be a new and radical way of managing economic decision-making in Cabinet. Last month, we were told it was the driving core of the budget process. Given the number of meetings it has had and that it cleared the budget line by line, does the Taoiseach agree it has failed its first major test? It produced a budget in which all the tough cuts in tax, welfare, education and health were targeted to fall on the poorest sections of society.

Departmental documents on the comprehensive spending review show the Taoiseach and other members of the council were aware of the details of cuts to disadvantaged schools, career guidance and language teaching from 9 September.

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