Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

This Bill does nothing to address the hardship being experienced by people in terms of mounting bills and so on. On top of this, interest penalties, of up to 9% in some cases, are resulting in their bills growing on a daily basis. The Government stated it would introduce legislation to deal with this issue. We are still waiting for it. We are as near to getting it now as we ever were. As time goes by it will become evident the Government never had any intention of looking after these people. Sadly though, it will be too late for the people concerned.

See this speech in context