David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a matter of historical record, and very important for the future, that we should have such documents.

A spin-off from the period investigated by the banking inquiry was the devastating impact on the ordinary people of this country. At the very beginning of the financial crisis, I suggested the establishment of a Minister for home security to look after the interests of Irish citizens in maintaining possession of their homes. However, this was never done. It is a pity it was never done, particularly in the light of a case in Cork about which I heard about a couple of days ago. It is typical of a number of similar cases that have occurred. A woman was a tenant in a house in which she and her husband lived. Her husband had worked all his life but was injured a year ago and is out sick. They have two children and assorted pets, animals and this, that and the other. They had always paid the rent. They were in receipt of rent supplement and the rent was slightly higher so they paid the difference themselves. They were tenants in good standing. There was no blemish on their record but there was a dispute between the landlord and the banks and now the banks are having the family evicted onto the side of the road. That is utterly shocking. There is all this blather about 1916 and all the rest of it. Evictions had ceased in Ireland by 1916 but they have been reintroduced with the support of this Government.