Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I will be happy if, as politicians, we will all be free to continue to act in the public interest. It would be wrong if politicians could not talk to each other, as we do, in the public interest, be it in respect of a specific case or a general one. It is very important that our ability to do so be protected. From what Senator Donohoe and others have stated, it is protected and we should be happy with that.

We are not professional lobbyists but we are guarding the public interest in a general way and sometimes in specific cases. The Minister's offer to talk to me is a case in point. I do not want to put on record the name of the firm I have in mind. There could be multiple cases of this kind because of the way the legislation is framed. We must get the economy moving again and free up credit. In the case to which I refer, the bank is prepared to advance the additional €11 million or €12 million but is being prevented by NAMA from having the security needed to cover the loan. Although everything is performing, all the security, which is way over the top, is going to NAMA.