Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I bring to the Leader's attention the results of a recent survey carried out by the Irish Bank Officials Association of the abuse of bank officials by members of the public. I am not referring to Mr. Seán Fitzpatrick or Mr. Michael Fingleton but to ordinary bank clerks who do a decent day's work and have always paid their taxes. They have suffered greatly as a result of the bank crisis in so far as their jobs are on the line and many of them have lost out, as the values of bank shares provided as part of profit-sharing schemes have fallen.

I will give the House an idea of the abuse faced by bank officials. The survey found that 75% had reported abuse at work, while a further 20% had reported abuse, including verbal and physical abuse, being spat at and so forth, by members of the public outside their workplace. While there is anger in the community, some of it justifiable, I am becoming alarmed because a certain group appears to believe that being angry is a licence to abuse people. When one hears anger Meister such as Joe Duffy and others in the media orchestrating public anger, I wonder how it will be directed.

We have had a garda abused in the performance of her duty in Leinster House and an absolute idiot trying to drive a concrete mixer through the front gates. He even had sympathisers among members of the public. I am beginning to wonder whether people are losing the run of themselves. I ask the Leader-----