Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

People are very concerned about the stability of our economy. Those I spoke to in Galway last weekend asked a fundamental, serious question. They wondered whether if the State guarantee on deposits had to be called on, the State would be able to pay. This question arises because the Minister for Finance was not honest with the people during the course of the debate last week on Anglo Irish Bank. He did not give the facts to the people; he covered up and did not answer our questions. As a result, the people are wondering whether there are more shady deals going on. The Government is doing itself an injustice by not trusting Opposition spokespersons with the facts, in confidence if necessary, about the bad debts at Anglo Irish Bank.

Our good friends in the credit union movement are suffering because people are withdrawing their money. It is the considered opinion that two banks must stay, AIB and Bank of Ireland, but this is not fair to credit unions because they have been there for us all and they have helped young couples such as those Senator Ó Murchú spoke about. We need the credit unions.