David Norris (Independent)

In the light of Senator Ó Murchú's request for an all-party motion on the rights of human beings, I ask the Leader if he will take the all-party agreed motion, No. 14, which I had some role in suggesting, on the position in some African states, including Uganda and Malawi. I gather it has been agreed with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Leader gave an indication in conversation with me that he would provide a short period of perhaps 30 minutes or one hour to enable it to be passed through the House and sent to the appropriate authorities.

I join colleagues in expressing concern about an article in The Irish Times which indicates that the European Commissioner, Mr. Joaquin Almunia, has expressed grave doubts about Anglo Irish Bank and the National Asset Management Agency, including about the possibility that there will be further exposure in property from the element within the bank that is regarded as the good bank. There was some confusion the first time I expressed my view - it resulted in outraged squawking - that the principal banks should be merged in one bank of Ireland through a clean surgical cut with Anglo Irish Bank which should be taken out into the Atlantic and sunk. I still believe this should be done, as it is not necessary to maintain the bank. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, a decent man who has faced with great courage personal health issues and the financial state of the country, indicated that the bank was of systemic importance. What that means is that we are determined to save the system rather than people. We will pour additional billions of euro into Anglo Irish Bank in the next few months, while people in Galway, for example, have respite care services withdrawn. I heard a mother speak about her son who, after ten years, had just settled into a routine. The withdrawal of her respite services will cause a complete disaster for the child in question. This case is being replicated all over the place.

I was the first person to argue that we should examine critically the ratings agencies. Let us also examine Goldman Sachs, even though an Irishman was at one stage in charge of the company. At the weekend I read in London that Goldman Sachs had helped to precipitate a famine in Ethiopia in order that it could gamble on world food prices. Let us attack the system and take down these blackguards.