Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Similar to the Tánaiste with whom I raised this question, the Minister's office was notified three weeks ago about this issue directly from the O'Donovan family. That is fair enough; the Minister is busy, and I respect that. I would appreciate if he might have a look at it, however.

Exactly 20 days ago in this Chamber during Leaders' Questions, I asked the Tánaiste the same question I have asked the Minister today. I asked him as Tánaiste and as leader of Fianna Fáil to meet the O'Donovans in Clonakilty. Even though he said he would meet them, no matter how the O'Donovans or myself have tried to contact him for this meeting since, he has not replied. He still has time to do so but if he does not, the people of Clonakilty and west Cork will have a dim view of him and his party. Too many livelihoods depend on the O'Donovan family in Clonakilty. They are an honest, straight, hardworking family who have been in business for seven generations and 44 years. The word here is "honest". Their hearts and souls have been broken by what the vulture funds and the banks have done. The Government cannot keep turning its back and saying it does not know the details. The Minister can sit down with them. He can sit down with representatives from AIB and the vulture funds. They are not stopping him from talking to anybody on this issue. I plead with the Minister to do so. The Government is the State's largest shareholder in our banks. Having directors on the AIB board, it cannot turn its back on the O'Donovans' successful business. The Minister can call for an investigation. I ask him to use every mechanism to broker a solution to appease all parties on this issue. Will he meet with that family?

See this speech in context