Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on ensuring people's co-operation with Oireachtas committees. I agree with Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole regarding the anger that has erupted. Over the weekend, I found that most people were discussing the "Six One News" interview with the chief executive officer of Bank of Ireland, during which he spoke about his salary. They were asking what planet that man was living on that he could speak about the outrageous salary he was earning at a time when people were on their knees and their hearts were breaking from their worries about the future.

On 2 July 2008, senior representatives from every bank, including Anglo Irish Bank, appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service. They outlined a fairly benign view of the Irish banking sector but we all know now that the picture they painted was utterly false and we were taken in by them. The ex-chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, Mr. FitzPatrick, and the external auditors for the bank have declined a request to appear before the Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs. If this Parliament is to retain any credibility, we must ensure these people are brought before us to answer to the elected representatives of the public. I understand the reason for Senator O'Toole's words of caution but if this matter is managed properly, it could work very well.

It was reported over the weekend that two senior counsels in one of the tribunals were each overpaid €1 million by mistake. The word on the street is they will not be required legally to return the money.