Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

As the Minister of State is waiting, I will respond as briefly as possible. All Senators made their views known to the House on rolling debates on the economy. Every week since we returned in September we have had a debate on financial and banking issues. All the issues with regard to the economy are being discussed. On Wednesday of this week we had a very good discussion during Fine Gael's Private Members' time on financial and banking issues and the economy. Yesterday, on Second Stage of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill, the economy was discussed and it will be discussed until 2 p.m. today. We are discussing it here on a weekly basis. On how we might conduct ourselves on the Order of Business — the word "conduct" must be underlined — yes, changes can be made and will be supported by this side of the House if we have confidence that the House will conduct itself if we introduce live television, as was done in the US Congress. I will support it if each Member is allowed one minute to ask one question per day and proceed in an organised fashion, as is done in the US Congress. This would make this House more meaningful to the people of Ireland who will then know it is not just about clichés or one-liners, that this is the Upper House of Parliament, and they will see the good work we do. However, Senators will have to undertake that they will conduct themselves when making contributions and abide by Standing Orders. I want change in this area and to make the Seanad more relevant provided all colleagues sign up to the process and see how it operates for the first 12 months. With a view to making the House more meaningful, I am prepared to make a proposal to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and colleagues to change the time of the Order of Business, if necessary, so it will not clash with that in the Dáil. I want an undertaking from each colleague that we can achieve this in an orderly fashion so we can enhance the House and let the people know about the good work taking place here daily.

With regard to Anglo Irish Bank and the announcement thereon, investors must believe there is value for money to be obtained. The bank possibly has a clientele that played a major role in creating and maintaining the Celtic tiger and who employed 100,000 people over the past ten or 12 years. This is quite possibly the positive aspect of the bank. Names of investors are being mentioned and we all hear them daily. They are captains of industry. They are men and women who played a great part in our economic success and they did have accounts with the Anglo Irish Bank, just as such people had accounts with the Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks, Ulster Bank and all our established banks. It is in this light that investors may see value in Anglo Irish Bank. This is a good news story.

While the opinion polls have been referred to and while there is certainly an uphill battle, we must ask ourselves who we remember from 1987. We remember Charles J. Haughey, Ray MacSharry——