Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I ask the Leader to invite the appropriate Minister to the House to discuss the issue raised by Senator Brian Hayes, namely, the three investigations into AIB. I would like to hear, in particular, what is being done by the Government to ensure a speedy conclusion of those inquiries, co-ordination between the three investigating authorities and public disclosure of the findings. It is important and in the public interest that these investigations take place as quickly as possible.

As regards the general issue of financial institutions, the Government did not follow up on the view expressed by the sub-committee of the Committee of Public Accounts in the DIRT inquiry that the banking system should be required to make financial restitution for any complicity in large scale tax evasion and fraud. I ask that the Government reconsider this view. As Senator Hayes said, it is important that the public is compensated for any such wrongdoing by financial institutions.

The Government survey of 2,000 motorists, one of the largest of its type carried out in Europe, revealed that 68% of drivers tested who were in excess of the alcohol limit also tested positive as regards one or more drugs. There was a particularly high incidence of positive drug readings among young male drivers who were tested. Obviously, this has serious implications as regards fatalities on our roads. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, to the House to let us know what the Government is doing to address this problem. It is not a new problem, but it is growing and could have a major bearing on road deaths if it is not addressed.