1. The finance minister must give an estimate of the average discount on loans across the guaranteed institutions. Anything below 30% is likely to create a political firestorm; anything over that will leave the banks nursing crippling losses on their loan books.

2. Lenihan will also have to provide information on the capital requirements of the main banks, following the discounting of their loans. The final figure for the overall capital requirement could be €10bn. He has to show that the government is willing either to stump up this money itself or to encourage private investment to lighten the load on the exchequer.

3. Lenihan has already committed to taking ordinary shares in the banks when they are recapitalised, but this could leave AIB majority state-owned.

4. He must indicate the likely shape of the banking market and provide details on potential consolidation and the so-called 'third banking force'.

5. The minister must also indicate how and when bonds will be issued to the banks for their loans and the knock-on effect on the gross national debt as a percentage of gross domestic product.