David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would also like a debate on traffic. The traffic management in this city is chaotic and catastrophic. I cannot get from where I live to the House without going all around the world. One cannot go around College Green anymore but must go up to St. Stephen's Green and it is impossible. There is no taking into account at all of the fact that people live in the inner city. They are entitled to have cars. The bicycle is an important part of our society but so too is the motor car, particularly for elderly people, who have been treated with utter contempt. Directions are completely confusing and there are far too many of them. At the back gate of Trinity College, there are spikes in the middle of the road to stop people joining other lanes. There are minor crashes on a regular basis as well as tailbacks. It is an absolute disaster.

Banks are another disaster, another catastrophe. The German people made a profit of €30,000 per citizen out of our catastrophe while each Irish citizen lost €18,000. Germany is winning and I would like a debate on that. I would also like a debate on some of the attendant circumstances. The attitudes of the Irish banks are absolutely disgraceful and senior bankers are recidivists of the worst kind. They have committed crimes against this country and were bought off and pardoned at the expense of every ordinary decent citizen in this country but they are back again, battering their own customers. They do not want the little people whose pennies were essential in freeing the banks and they will not now accept a deposit of less than €3,000. What about the fact that this money belongs to these people? Banks are there to serve people, not just to make money. They will not now give out less than €700. How many people roll into a bank and ask for €700, €800 or €1,000 to go and do their shopping?