Alan Kelly (Labour)

We need to state the facts bluntly. When the people from the banks were before the committee, they were either not telling the truth or were so incompetent they did not see what was coming down the tracks. Whichever it was, it fills me with fear. I ask the Leader to urge the Government to ensure the same individuals are brought before an emergency sitting of the committee, or some other one, to be asked the difficult questions. When they come before committees they must answer the questions honestly. Legislation passing through the House must be based on their truthful responses, but when they were before the House at that time they were not truthful. Therefore, they must be brought before another committee and asked hard questions. There is also serious concern with regard to the role of the regulator. The boards of the banks should also be replaced and the Government must insist on having somebody on them for at least the next two years.

In 1992 a couple on lower executive salaries were able to borrow X amount of money from financial institutions. In 2007 they were able to borrow five times a correlated amount as in 1992. If that is not evidence of banking gone mad or enough to show regulation does not work or demonstrate greed has got into the system, nothing will show us.

On the issue of health, the Teamwork reports have been promised a long time. We heard about them in January, February, April and June, etc., but have not seen them. The HSE and the Minister for Health and Children are implementing the reports without publishing them. Will the Leader find out if they will be published and, if so, when?