Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join other Senators in asking the Leader to contact the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, on the issue of mortgage arrears. The expert group on mortgage arrears chaired by Mr. Hugh Cooney is to give its final report to the Minister this week. I have concerns as to the superficial nature of some of the actions that may be contained in that report and hope that even at this eleventh hour some of these rumoured actions, or rather the lack thereof, in the report can be addressed. I speak as one who is involved in the prevention of family home repossessions group, established in March 2009. Many Members of this House at that time joined in highlighting what would become a huge problem. At this late stage it is interesting to see that many economists and others now agree this is a problem and a new group plans to take legal cases against banks to challenge the underwriting quality of that time, and rightly so. I could speak for hours on this but the important point is that the Oireachtas faces this issue as a real one. As we contemplate the very difficult decisions that must be taken in coming weeks I believe there is automatic consensus on one matter, namely, the protection of the family. To give adequate protection to the family we must ensure to protect the family home - not trophy homes or investment properties. In order to do that statutory change is needed in regard to the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, for which I have lobbied in this Chamber for some time. Also required, irrespective of the market's reaction, is an acknowledgement that debt sharing is the only way to give adequate protection to family homes. That is essential as, clearly, we will have to contemplate other financial difficulties and are prepared to do so. Family homes must be protected.

My second and concluding point relates to the Croke Park agreement. Although I am a strong advocate of partnership, as are many Senators, I ask the Leader to contact the Taoiseach and suggest that he invite all the social partners to the Oireachtas so we can examine those aspects of the Croke Park agreement which I believe are no longer possible to implement given the change in the past 12 months. One need only look at reports in today's newspapers on education expenditure, 75% of which is on pay. We know that 70% of the health budget goes on pay. Colleagues, it is time we faced the elephant in the room. We are paying ourselves too much throughout all Departments, particularly the higher-paid.