Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I also welcome the re-election of Senator Mooney. I do not know the Senator but I am sure we will engage with each other during the coming months and years.

I support the calls for a public inquiry into banking. I do so not because other politicians are requesting such an inquiry but because ordinary people, who understand what is happening, are seeking it. We are doing a great disservice to the public interest by not having a fully transparent inquiry into banking. It is time for honesty and truth. While the Government has promised to establish an inquiry, we must ask why there is a need to keep it secret. Why will the inquiry be held behind closed doors? Why is the period to which it will relate being limited to events which took place prior to the end of September 2008? These are pertinent questions and they must be answered.

If we are to restore confidence in the banking sector and in the economy, this would be a good starting point. By establishing an open inquiry, the Government could take the lead in this regard. Will the Leader ask the Taoiseach and the Government to cast off the cloak of secrecy with regard to the inquiry, restore full confidence and transparency and give the people something genuine, open and honest with which to engage?

I support the comments of previous speakers regarding the condition of the road network following the recent adverse weather conditions. Not only am I referring to local and secondary roads in this regard but also to the national and primary routes that have been seriously damaged. There are many roads which are littered with potholes and craters and which have been affected by serious subsidence. As late as last week, the Minister for Transport, who is responsible for the funding of our roads, stated publicly that he would not provide emergency funding to local authorities. I am very surprised at that statement because I am sure he is hearing from representatives, like the Leader and others from the other side of the House along with Fianna Fáil and other Government party councillors throughout the country - not that there are too many Green Party councillors - about the damage to our road network which is essential for the everyday life of business and society. It is essential for the Minister to listen to those representatives and provide emergency funding because if he is not listening, he is obviously in cloud-cuckoo land and is not in touch. It is essential that funding be provided to local authorities to reinstate these roads.