Joe O'Toole (Independent)

In recent times it is interesting to see how the different standards apply. We noted recently that Bishop Jim Moriarty's resignation was accepted by the Vatican on the basis that he felt he should have challenged the culture, and people accept that, rightly or wrongly. If we take a parallel situation within the banking industry, we are aware that there were at least 15 senior bankers who accepted an e-mail directing them to prevent information getting to the market and to consumers and investors and, effectively, they co-operated and colluded with this culture. Everybody seems to believe we should deal with the person who sent out the e-mail, and this is where the problem starts and continues. It is akin to Germany in the Second World War where people said they just did what they were told. There can be no excuses for people who voluntarily colluded in this wrong involving people losing money and which led to many of the current problems in the State. This is going on all over the place and I would like if we could get a clear indication that action will be taken in this regard. It is just not acceptable.

Some committees are dealing with the question whether the Houses of the Oireachtas should begin their business with a prayer and Atheist Ireland are getting very agitated on the issue. How do atheists feel about being subject to an act of God over the last week or so? Theists and atheists are all the one to me, so it is not an issue for me, but I just wonder about this. I put the question because I tend to agree with Michael O'Leary that it is grossly unfair that airline companies should be deemed to be responsible for six days' board and accommodation for people for something over which they had no control. We should talk to God or whomsoever we believe is responsible for this, but we should leave the airlines out of it.