Alex White (Labour)

For the sake of the people facing searing debt I hope the proposals the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources mentioned over the weekend come to fruition. However, the Cathaoirleach will excuse me for expressing a certain amount of scepticism about that particular statement because it bears closer scrutiny. It refers to the setting up of an expert group, presumably to come together and bring forward recommendations. The Minister used the term "rolling recommendations", whatever they are, in respect of what would be done to address this problem. First, it is an expert group set up to make recommendations. From what one can see, it not a group set up to do anything, although perhaps I can be corrected on that if I am wrong. Second, the expert group is not to be set up imminently. It will be set up within weeks. Senator O'Toole said, "Fair play to the Greens if they make it happen", but there is no particular evidence that anything will be made happen from this statement. There is simply a statement of intent to have a group of people come together to discuss it and make recommendations. That is very different from the concrete proposals that have been brought forward, including proposals by my party, in respect of addressing this very serious and urgent issue.

Through the Cathaoirleach, I wish to put a direct question to the Leader in respect of the banks. There was a debate here last week about the banks and the form of the commission of inquiry to be set up. My question is very clear and relatively short. What consultation is it intended to have with Seanad Éireann and when will that consultation occur in respect of the preliminary stage and the commission of inquiry? The Government and, if I am not mistaken, the Minister stated last week that the Houses of the Oireachtas would be consulted. The term "the Houses of the Oireachtas" was the phrase used. That is quite different from saying a committee of the Oireachtas or the Dáil should be consulted. What consultation is it intended to have with this House and when will such consultation take place? It is important that it should take place. Many of us expressed concern last week about the inadequacy of what is being proposed, a concern apparently shared by Senator Boyle in fairness to him. Even if we leave aside that and hold fast to what is coming by way of an inquiry, what specific role will this House have in it?