Alan Kelly (Labour)

Were Members to ask certain questions or make statements in a a certain manner, they might be giving oxygen to the Taoiseach's concerns. However, they are not doing so, even though they do not have the requisite information to make an honest assessment of the Bill. We are seeking to insert a clause that will ensure the taxpayer can be confident that everything that needs to be dug out will be dug out. That is why this provision is being tabled. The Minister is taking a leap of faith with the Irish people but this provision will handcuff him to them to ensure he digs up everything that is necessary.

My colleagues are correct in stating we should not have to move this amendment if the provision was in the Bill but the Bill is not strong enough without it. It does not provide enough transparency on the activities that have gone on, which I will not repeat ad nauseam because everybody, down even to ten year olds, is aware of what has gone on in Anglo Irish Bank.

The Government should think clearly before it renounces this amendment. The hope and confidence that it is trying to build for the banks depends on the level of information coming out so that intelligent people can make a critical analysis that they trust what it is doing and it is right. Currently they are on a pendulum and they must decide whether they trust the Government or not. This will help the Minister of State to gain their trust. If he neglects it, they will think otherwise.

I want to make a simple point in agreement with Senator Norris. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, was in here approximately an hour and 15 minutes ago and he stated quite categorically, contrary to what the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, stated, that the powers of the Office of Corporate Enforcement were not the same when it came to banking. Despite the Minister of State's statement, that is the reason we need this amendment in order to ensure that those necessary powers and provisions are there to get the information, to weed out those who did wrong and to ensure that steps are taken that it will never happen again. I ask the Minister of State to support this.