David Norris (Independent)

In the absence of such leadership or analysis of the financial situation, one is left dealing with the queries of individual people. I conducted a radio interview the other day with an economic commentator and while I do not know how serious he was, he came up with a serious question. If a deposit taker, that is, the bank that has accepted the money, goes into liquidation, how long will it take to recover individuals' funds and what level of administration will be involved? He provided the specific example of one of his clients who is considering the building of a new family home in 2009. Were such a person to put €100,000 into one of the wobbly banks, as it were, will he be able to get it back out? What delays will there be? These are real and immediate problems. I second Senator Mullen's amendment and apologise for not so doing earlier.

I seek a debate on the Middle East. I have asked for such a debate a number of times. Two days ago, the Americans invaded Syria. They crossed the border with a fleet of helicopters, landed in broad daylight and machine-gunned a family home, resulting in more than half a dozen deaths, a number of which were of children. This took place without discussion. How long will Bush be allowed to commit murder in such a way? The voice of protest must be raised because that man is in the final, dying days of his disgraceful presidency and I hope he does not do something catastrophic as a diversionary tactic.