Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I will refer to a market commentary in the Financial Times today on the fall in the value of Irish bank shares which has continued today. It refers specifically to delays in the passage of the NAMA legislation and the President signing the Bill. It also refers to the Supreme Court possibly having to pronounce on the Bill. From where did it get these issues? They were raised by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, last week in a cheap political shot against the Opposition. If there is a fall in the value of bank shares, the very issues the Minister raised in the Dáil are the ones the Financial Times, in its commentary, ascribes to the fall. I do not think the Seanad can be blamed for the fall in the value of bank shares or the delay in the passage of the NAMA legislation because it has not yet come before the House. 3 o'clock