Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a related question. It is fair to say there has been considerable frustration on the part of the Government about the time it has taken for the Irish banking sector to come to grips with this problem and make progress. The sector has been a bit like a rabbit caught in headlights in recent years, including when Fianna Fáil was in government and during our term in government. We will soon know whether our strategy is working. We will know whether the timelines we have set – 20% by the end of June, 30% by September and 50% by the end of the year – are working, and whether that of Fianna Fáil is a better one.

I am not in any way criticising the Deputies opposite for tabling this motion. I have considerable experience in opposition and one of these days I will get around to writing a book about it. If I were in opposition, I would be doing the same thing myself.

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