Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

The Irish people own 15% of it, having paid well in excess of €4 billion. This is a scandal. The Labour Party has capitulated to the right-wing capitalist ethos of Fine Gael in allowing this sale. It must not happen again. The neoliberalism espoused by the Irish establishment has destroyed our economy and society. People like the CEO of Bank of Ireland are now more answerable to American venture capitalists than they are to the Government, the country or the Dáil.

Many of the public interest directors at AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB are former Ministers. It is scandalous that they have received approximately €1 million in fees for their roles. Where are they? They have not reported to the Government or been asked to do so. Why has the Minister for Finance not called them in and given them direction?

The scandal of sizeable salaries and pensions in the banking sector can only be dealt with by nationalising the banks and making them answerable to the Irish people, the Government and the Dáil.

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