Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The question on the VEC in Dublin can be addressed in an Adjournment debate. It is really one for the VEC.

Senator John Whelan and other Members mentioned Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. His comments on both the children's rights referendum and the excessive amounts spent by families when celebrating a child's First Holy Communion and accompanying events such as parties and so on have been welcomed by the vast majority of people in the country. As Senator Diarmuid Wilson stated, I hope the archbishop's brother bishops will take on board what he said and will be encouraged to make similar statements in their own dioceses in this regard.

Senator John Whelan also mentioned the closure of AIB branches. We will bring to the attention of the Minister for Finance the fact that 53 branches are to close to see if anything can be done to prevent this. It is a matter for AIB, but we will raise it with the Minister.

I refer to burden sharing with junior and subordinated bondholders, a matter that has been raised since March 2011. Burden sharing measures with junior bondholders have delivered a figure of ¤5.8 billion, a sum that would otherwise have been provided by the taxpayer.

That is an aspect of this matter which people would do well to remember.