Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

We should have a debate and get the responsible Minister in here.

With regard to planning, I would say to Senator Feargal Quinn to Mind Your Own Business, which was the name of his book. It is an excellent read and anybody trying to survive in a small retail business in Ireland now should read it. I have done so and there is much common sense in it. Even if the Senator minds his own business, the big issue with retailing in this country is planning law, which must be an integral part of tackling this issue.

I will raise the matter of credit unions, with 13 across this country at the butt of the promissory note issue. Some credit unions invested in what was then Anglo Irish Bank, with a 100% guaranteed investment scheme in 2005 that was to mature in 2013. I understand in the order of ¤70 million is involved in this across the country. This investment was wiped out the day after the promissory note agreement and the passing of the related legislation. I am sure other people in this room are members of credit unions like me, and they have seen the value of their credit union shares drop. This was an unforeseen circumstance of the deal on the promissory notes and the issue should be addressed. I have raised the matter on different occasions in different forums but nothing has been done. There is an opportunity to resolve the matter and I ask the Leader to bring it to the attention of the Minister for Finance again. The ordinary shareholders and members of credit unions have been affected and this would put their minds at ease if the issue could be resolved in a fair way that would see them not losing this money.