Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

Having attended the same presentation as Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh yesterday, I strongly agree with him that community employment schemes, certainly those in my county, have done invaluable work in recent years. I hope to see them go from strength from strength and that the resources required to achieve this will be made available.

I support the call made by my colleague from Galway East, Senator Lorraine Higgins, for the Minister for Finance to clarify the position on the Ulster Bank fiasco over the weekend. If ever confidence in the Irish banking system was severely damaged, it was over the weekend when so many people throughout the country were severely discommoded. There is major uncertainty, with people worried about their credit ratings and the costs they may incur. The bank needs to clarify the position and the Minister who has a major involvement in the banking sector with the Governor of the Central Bank needs to allay public concerns because of the damage that has been done. In addition, we want to make sure, when this matter has cleared up, that nobody is out of pocket, that people's credit ratings are intact and that confidence in the banking system is restored.