Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

This is a very important debate. Section 210 forms the core of the Bill. Very significant contributions have been made and there is a solution. The Government has not examined the Fine Gael good bank proposal, even though it should have done so, but it was cast aside because it was a proposal made from elsewhere. Section 210 is all about risk and risk takers. If a bank loans money, it has to take a risk. The person looking for the money is also taking a risk.

Senator O'Toole said this section was a sop to the taxpayer; that is one interpretation of it.