Joe O'Toole (Independent)

There was a time not that long ago when we had these things in Ireland, but this goes back to the point made by Senator Harris yesterday. These are the issues. In all seriousness, the issue raised by Senator Fitzgerald is crucial. It has to do with the philosophical structure for political vision of the country. There was a time not that long ago when there were mutual societies, commonly referred to as building societies, which were not-for-profit organisations which looked after their members and which set out to do all of the things for which Senator Fitzgerald asked. Ten years ago a few of us here tried to hold back the tide against anti-mutualisation when Mr. Fingleton was in the bar every Wednesday night telling us to get rid - I will scratch that comment-----