Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I second Senator Coghlan's amendment to the Order of Business to discuss the banking crisis. I was given to understand by the Leader that we would have held a debate several weeks ago on the banking crisis and NAMA, in particular. The issues are now so acute and urgent that a debate is required today.

I understand from Senator Boyle that the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Trevor Sargent, is to make a statement in the other House later today. This is a serious issue and I hope it will be resolved. All of the issues with we have been dealing for several weeks do not concern personalities but the system of justice and its administration. Any interference in that system, particularly by Members of the Oireachtas, is entirely inappropriate.

A further statement is required from the Taoiseach in the light of a report on the Dublin Docklands Development Authority which points out that, as Minister for Finance, he had responsibility for increasing the cap on borrowing which allowed the authority to enter into the disastrous deal on the Glass Bottle site leaving it with a deficit of €213 million. The then Taoiseach in waiting held a private meeting with Mr. Seán Fitzpatrick and the directors of Anglo Irish Bank. This was not included in the public engagements list. In September 2008 he expressed a particular view on the bank guarantee and whether the aforementioned bank should be considered as being of systemic importance and in the same category as the other banks. He should make a statement setting out what is and was his relationship with Mr. Fitzpatrick. At this remove that relationship looks somewhat suspect-----