Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

As I listened to the contributions from all sides of the House on the need for a debate on the floods and the crisis facing our country I was reminded of a remark I heard last night by one of our finest novelists, Joseph O'Connor. He said on RTE last night that hope is the habit we need to acquire. This was brought home to me by the descriptions by my colleagues of the awful conditions so many families throughout the country are facing.

An essential element of hope is that when politicians or governments set out an expectation of something they will do, they are then willing to make public statements about whether they can deliver that expectation. I am seeking debates on three issues in that context. First, I support the comments made by Senator Regan about the banking executives who said yesterday, with regard to the effect of NAMA bonds being released into the system, that lending was one of the options being considered. We must have a discussion about that when NAMA is up and running. What are the other options being considered in light of the fact that €54 billion is being released to the banks?

My second point relates to what happened yesterday with Anglo Irish Bank. It made public its intent to pursue legal action against a former employee of the bank. How have we arrived at the point where that bank can initiate legal proceedings before any State agency can——