Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I have just come from a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting where the Minister for Finance brought us up to date on the decision made during the night. He stressed this decision was to protect the life blood of our economy. It is not about protecting the management of the banks and the chief executives; it is about keeping our economy moving and sending a message around the world that we are in business. He told us we have received congratulations from the Federal Republic of Germany complimenting us as a small country on making a swift decision. This decision is not about protecting the big shots running the banks but about keeping the show on the road.

I do not know whether Senator Ross heard Joe Duffy's "Liveline" programme last week, but I found it frightening as I listened to it. Such was the irresponsibility shown by Joe Duffy that I wanted to run out to the bank and withdraw the little money I have in it because I was so afraid by what I heard. Senator Ross may not realise that the people——