We should show solidarity with the wonderful people of the beautiful island of Cyprus. Its Government was prepared, under instruction from the troika and others, to steal up to 10% of the people's savings. This reminds us of the pressures the former Minister for Finance, the late Brian Lenihan and the former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, were under in 2008 when they gave a guarantee that savings worth up to €100,000 would be protected, even though there was a possible run on the banks at that stage with Joe Duffy's show and others promoting the withdrawal of funds. They resisted this pressure. We should recognise their strength and the work they did in resisting those pressures. The current Government committed to burning the bondholders but instead has given them bonuses. In 2008 individual shareholders in AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB lost out significantly, but the people with savings were not affected.

Is the Senator calling for a debate on the issue?

I am calling on the Minister for Finance to clarify why the finance Ministers were prepared to put this pressure on Cyprus. I want to recall and recognise the contribution of our Government at that time to saving the small savers of this country, because they were not prepared, like the Cypriot Government, to grab their savings. We should show solidarity with and support the people of Cyprus at this difficult time. I hope the Minister for Finance will do this too.