Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I, too, strongly support Senator Cummins's request to the Leader for a further debate on the recovery plan. Amazingly, the plan makes no mention of the banks, for which the great bulk of that €85 billion loan package is intended, regardless of whether it is drawn down or is to be the backstop or the firepower that has been spoken about so much on the Government side of the House. We need to hear more from Government about the possible amalgamation being mooted between Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society for a Fine Gael-type bad bank, which might not be a bad thing, for the transfer from the other institutions of the distressed and impaired loans that did not make their way into NAMA. It is very important that we have a debate on the plan, especially the banking aspects.

On another issue, the Supreme Court handed down a most important unanimous judgment yesterday on the challenge to the Mahon tribunal by O'Callaghan, Quarryvale and others. That is an extremely significant decision because, I presume, the tribunal report could not be published until the challenge to its publication or whatever was out of the way. Now that it is out of the way, it is vital the House debates the report the minute it is available. Naturally, it covers very important matters to do with planning, alleged corruption and all the rest, but the recommendations of the Mahon tribunal are matters of concern to every citizen, and it is our place to have a debate on it. I am sure the other House will want to do the same. Perhaps the Leader can enlighten the House as to what the Government knows about this matter.