Eoghan Harris (Independent)

Be that as it may, there is significant consensus in Irish politics about our ideology. It is not generally remarked upon but in Ireland we agree the best system for economic activity is capitalism, mediated strongly by social democracy. In other words, capitalism is like hard players but there are also corrupt and dirty players. The business of the State is to act like a tough referee on the particularly dirty players.

I strongly agree with Senator Fitzgerald on the bankers' actions in recent months. The old Irish proverb comes to mind: ní hí an bhochtaineacht is measa dúinn ach an tarcaisne a leannan í; it is not the poverty we mind but the insult that follows. What annoys the public is the bankers' insulting behaviour to give themselves bonuses and top up their pensions on top of the structural problems they already caused.

One cannot stop people behaving badly. As the Chinese say, one cannot stop the blackbirds of evil flying over one's head but one can stop them making a nest in one's hair. I support the proposed amendment to the Order of Business. Will the Deputy Leader, Senator Boyle, and the Leader, Senator Cassidy, convey to the Minister for Finance in the strongest possible terms the cross-party consensus that the State needs to act as a tough referee, to stop pussyfooting and get stuck in there with the procedures and mechanisms available? Senators of all parties want the State to act in the toughest and hardest fashion on the banking sector's bad behaviour.