David Norris (Independent)

I join with colleagues in welcoming the possibility of a debate on the banks. What we are essentially seeing is the nationalisation of the banking system, and I strongly welcome this. There will be a requirement for a further inflow of public funds, and so the taxpayer should be entitled to equity for that investment. I heard somebody on the radio yesterday saying that we needed a return to the values of public service, and I agree completely. Where did they go? Many of us have been calling for that for a long time. This is a public utility and should be treated as such. We all use the banking system and we cannot live our lives without it. It must be protected by the State and I do not mind the word "nationalisation". In fact, I welcome it.

I thank my colleague, Senator Hannigan, for his generous remarks about Trinity College, while his own university is also in the first 200 colleges. Trinity College has managed to get into the first 50 colleges. These are very significant achievements for both universities, especially if one looks at the top 20. They are almost all from America, although there are a few British universities. The difference is the massive funding that both states put into third level education. I have a slight difference with my colleague, Senator Bacik, as I believe the question of fees is still open. I know this could damage my constituency and that I could lose votes, but I do not care. One must look at these matters in a detached light and I believe that the scarce resources of the State are directed in the most meaningful way towards the most vulnerable people. I am not going to stand against fees until that question has been examined, because we must, as a matter of principle, protect the most vulnerable.

My final point is on the proposed metro. I welcome very much the fact that this continues to be discussed on the transport committee, and I ask the Leader for a full debate on this matter. It started in the House as the framework legislation was passed in here following a vote. It is important to note that the Chairman of the transport committee, Deputy Fahey, said yesterday that it was vitally important that the metro project continue. He was supported by the Fine Gael representative, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, who said that it was an essential piece of infrastructure. Nonetheless, The Irish Times, under the leadership of its former environment correspondent Frank McDonald, has been engaging continuously over the last ten years in an almost ideologically committed campaign against the metro. This is similar to the campaign the Sunday Independent waged against Mary Robinson when she was President, when we would see her in the fashion pages. One would expect to find her in the weather column, because every possible device was used to be critical of her.