In 2012, the Taoiseach advised the Dáil that he had made an agreement with the European Union for the retrospective recapitalisation of the Irish banks. On Monday last, the Minister for Finance raised the white flag of surrender in regard to that. Today, we find that the EU has made special financial arrangements for the big boys of Europe, in particular Italy and France. Will the Taoiseach make time for a debate on this issue in the Chamber?

It is not necessary. Our country is in a very different position from Greece. This matter has arisen because there is a general election in Greece at the moment.

There will be one here soon.

We have exited the bailout programme and our country is able to borrow money at 0.86%, which is very much down from the bond yields of 15% a number of years ago. The situation is that the decision of June 2012 was one that was made by the European Council to clean up the enormous economic mess that was left to this Government as a legacy. What we are trying to do is in the interests of the Irish taxpayer. The options are being considered by the Government and the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to see which is the best to get back the most money for the Irish taxpayer.

The Minister for Finance has confirmed that he expects that every cent this Government puts into the functioning banks will be recovered over a period. We have lessened the burden of the mess left by our predecessors-----

The Taoiseach will not allow a debate in the Chamber on this very important issue.

-----by reconstructing those loans and dealing with the promissory notes, and by not having to borrow €3 billion every year in interest for Anglo Irish Bank, in respect of which this Government did not pay one red cent.

The Taoiseach has surrendered to the EU again. It is quite simple. He has surrendered again.