Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

Some of the points in the speech would be investigated by the Garda and for those lines to be blurred is a profound mistake. I say this on behalf of the individual gardaí who had to rush to a gangland murder on Friday night and who stand outside head shops all over Dublin city. Such rank and file members are the people who will suffer from such statements and a line was crossed yesterday that should not have been. The issue merits debate in the House and a response from Members.

I want to pick up on a theme from yesterday and note the comments of Senator Twomey. It is imperative we have a discussion on that issue. Ratings agencies yesterday made statements on the creditworthiness of Portugal and there were further statements relating to Greece. These are the same ratings agencies that have played such a dangerous role with regard to our banks and they are now making statements on countries.

In 2007 and 2008 there was a degree to which political systems sleepwalked into a banking crisis. We are now on the verge of sleepwalking into a crisis involving the solvency of nation states. The very least this House can do is begin to discuss this. We are on the precipice of what could be a profound crisis for European nation states and across the world. The seriousness of the matter cannot be understated.