Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

One of my colleagues on the Government side spoke of Ireland's banking crisis not being unique as crises have also occurred in the UK and US. That does not mean, however, that it is right. I warmly welcome Senator Bradford's contribution on the banking issue. While there is consensus, I would prefer, however, that it would not just be talk and that there would be action in bringing to task the former banking chief executive officers such as Mr. Fingleton and others who have destroyed our banking system.

A pension top-up of €1.5 million is an extraordinary sum of money. I am losing sleep worrying about people who cannot afford to pay their mortgages because of the sloppy lending of some of these executives. Under the State bank guarantee, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance have the authority to bring these people to task and stop the €1.5 million pension top-up to Mr. Boucher. The idea of writing off €2.8 billion in loans that some people took is immoral and disgusting. For the sake of the country, will the Leader ask the Minister for Finance to attend the House to debate these matters so that we can let him know how strongly we feel? This is all about right and wrong and, more importantly, trust.

I pay tribute to the chief of staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, who is not well and recently retired from his post. I wish him and his family well. He was an extraordinary chief of staff and I wish him well.