Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am being as moderate as I can in the circumstances about these despicable people. Why would they not do this when they can get away with it and they have got with it? None of them has been arraigned or brought before the courts. I blame this on the Minister for Finance, the Taoiseach, the regulators, high paid advisers and the ECB regulators who shovelled the money in here when our banks did not have it. That is why I have said all along that 50% of the money we are supposed to owe we do not owe because it was shoved in here recklessly. It should not have been shovelled in here. There was no accountability or monitoring. To make matters worse, I am reliably informed in recent times that all these speculators and senior bondholders had their investments insured. They are laughing at what we did here and the way they are crucifying us - I hate using that word in that context in Holy Week. The so-called senior bondholders were insured and their investments can be redeemed. They can have a double laugh. They are laughing all the way to some other bank. It is despicable and sickening. No wonder the people are angry. I do not know how they are so quiet, why they are not marching on these banks or taking some drastic action. I do not advocate that but how long can we take it? How long can a kettle be left boiling before all the water evaporates and one is down to the basic line of defence? People do not have the money. Those in front line services, the members of the Garda Síochána, the nurses and the people who look after our services, are being crucified.

They cannot take any more. They would not mind if it was their own borrowing, but it was reckless lending and there was nobody in charge in spite of the warnings. A former Taoiseach had the audacity to tell people who spoke against it to go away and commit suicide. That was the most horrible suggestion to make to anybody in that situation. We know how many suicides there are now in every constituency as a result of this, yet he can swan around and draw his pension.

It beggars belief that such a travesty could be imposed on our people and future generations and nobody has called a halt. This Government promised so much but it has not even asked for a write-down. One never knows what answer one will get until one puts the question. Chur an ceist agus faigh tú an freagra. Is the Government afraid to ask the question? I do not know how we have become beholden to Europe and to some greater powers. I visited the IMF last week in Washington and handed in a letter of complaint about the way our banks are treating our people and how this Government and the last Government have allowed them to behave. I have not yet got a response but I hope to get one soon. To whom are we beholden? What greater power is there than that of our ordinary people?

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