Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will not go there, because whatever happened in the past is in the past. The question is what we do from here on. We all have the facts before us. We all know that these banks are super-profitable. We all know that the State requires additional revenue. It is not as if we are not subject to pressures.

This is not actually about taxing the banks more. It is about taxing the banks fairly.

They will be still able to use these losses and carry them forward, albeit over a longer period. The key issue is that they will start to pay tax at an earlier point. That is what this is all about. As I stated, the Minister of State did not offer any justification for refusing to accept the amendment. While there may have been justification for the current arrangement in 2014, I do not see any justification for it at this point, particularly in respect of Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland.

As Deputy John McGuinness stated, the amendment would commit the Minister to preparing a report. A technical paper is being done and the amendment would go one step further by having a report prepared.

On a side issue, I agree with Deputy McGuinness that the Minister, Minister of State and their officials - I do not criticise the officials for doing their job - should not meet vulture funds or their agents if they refuse to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

See this speech in context