Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Minister of State's amendment. For far too long there have been too many golden circle directors who seem to go from one boardroom to another for a glass of brandy and a chat. Look at the AIB. It did not seem to care what was happening in America and none of its directors resigned or took responsibility for it, yet when I go to that bank, it is overcharging me for services. I am tired of this golden circle and will not support it. It consists of professional directors who go from one boardroom to another. They do not care if the companies concerned are involved with the Mafia in New York or pollution in Colombia. They wash their hands of the matter and are not interested. This provision will make them very interested. If they do not like the responsibilities, they should not take on the job. Most are very well remunerated – too well in most instances. I got no offers to become a director when, as a former Minister of State, I was out in the wilderness.