Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I did not interrupt anybody on the other side of the House. Members on the other side of the House should listen to what I have to say. The very same banks are going to penalise businesses and individuals by increasing their interest rates, including mortgage rates. We should not allow that to happen as major shareholders in the bank. We should also direct AIB to sell off its assets abroad and put the money into the bank here just as the foreign banks operating here are doing. They are consolidating their positions. It is time for the Government to indicate that the bank must sell off its overseas assets and invest it in jobs here. We need to control the charges banks are imposing on businesses. If we do not, it will put them out of business. I call on the Minister to come to the House to discuss the situation as soon as possible.