Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Bacik, Boyle, Bradford, Walsh, Coghlan, Ó Murchú, Buttimer, Corrigan, Harris, Hanafin, Donohoe, McCarthy, McFadden and Healy Eames again expressed strong views on affairs of banking. I wish to inform the House that we will have a debate on banking on Tuesday next to address the urgent call made on the Order of Business today and yesterday. I look forward to allocating whatever time is necessary to colleagues to allow them make their strong views known to the Minister who will be present on the day. I agree with many of the sentiments expressed this morning, particularly the one by Senator O'Toole regarding the need for European Union auditing at the same level in all 27 countries. I believe we would all strongly endorse that and look forward to its implementation at the earliest possible time.

The level of debate and questioning on the Order of Business this morning is a shining example and very uplifting for me, as Leader of the House, of the way colleagues now home in more on policy and the serious issues affecting us rather than engaging in political point scoring. I very much welcome a move to that.