Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I, too, would like to be associated with the positive comments made about the famous handshake yesterday. I hope the country is moving further into a new era of understanding, proper relationships, respect and courtesy that will benefit us internationally as we try to rebuild the country and encourage people throughout the world to holiday in Ireland, both North and South.

There has been much talk in recent days about the upcoming Personal Insolvency Bill. I very much look forward to its publication because it will certainly create a road map for people to work their way out of their very difficult circumstances with the assistance of the Government. I hope sincerely that the legislation will deal with the arrogance of the banks. A very interesting meeting is taking place in Ballsbridge today, namely, the annual general meeting of the bank we own, Allied Irish Banks. I am certainly interested in hearing the account it is going to give to taxpayers who have a shareholding in the order of 95% of 96% of the way in which it has been treating mortgage holders and small businesses. Banks do not seem to be able to get anything right because there are still appalling circumstances in Ulster Bank. The computer difficulties in the bank have not been resolved to date and this will be the case for the next few days. The problem in the banking system in Ireland involves much more than computers, but this is a classic and clear example of absolute incompetence. I wish the Government well in putting the finishing touches to the Personal Insolvency Bill. It will be watershed legislation, whereby the people will grasp the problem by the scruff of the neck and deal with it. We have been waiting for the banks to address it for too long.