I wish to respond to some of the comments made by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell about the Governor of the Central Bank and the mortgage market. I agree with her that we need a robust debate on the banking sector and I have called for that on a number of occasions. We cannot go back to the way things were. There is no alternative now for people on low incomes such as there was back in the 1970s and 1980s. The mutual societies are gone. The Industrial Credit Corporation, the Agricultural Credit Corporation, the EBS and all of those organisations where people on lower level incomes could borrow are gone. We are now left with the two or three banks that run banking and must wake up and deal with that reality.

In the context of the ESRI's latest economic commentary, it is gratifying to see that not only-----

On a point of order, is the Senator suggesting we are not allowed to challenge the two great pillar banks? I am surprised by that.

That is not a point of order.

No, I said the opposite.

She said we must live with this reality.

The Senator cannot abuse the facility to make a point of order.

My apologies.

Does Senator Aideen Hayden have a question for the Leader?

Yes, I do. I said the exact opposite.

No, the Senator did not.

I said we needed a debate on banking because we no longer had alternatives.

That does not mean that we cannot challenge the arrangements made.

Please allow Senator Aideen Hayden to speak.

As we have no alternatives, the only thing we can do is challenge the main lending institutions. As they are the only game in town, we must challenge whatever they say robustly.