Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, will bring forward proposals for that Bill before the end of the year. The Deputy can be assured that the commitment given in the programme for Government will be delivered on.

When the Order of Business is concluded in a few minutes, the House will be asked to agree a motion to approve the commencement of the legislation for the banking inquiry as introduced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to allow for a banking inquiry to take place. That is part of the legislative process. The form of the inquiry and its terms of reference, is a matter for the House. I understand that work is under way on drafting terms of reference but it is a matter for the House. We should approach this issue on an all-party basis because the public wants to see a banking inquiry and to have answers to questions.

There is a duty on this House and the Parliament to respond to that and we should do so collectively and in a non-partisan manner. This House has a good track record of doing inquiries and addressing difficult issues, as we saw earlier this year. We should approach this issue in the same spirit.

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