John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand it is working through its loans. To return to my earlier example, the individual in question informs me that he has tried time and again to engage with and contact the lender but nothing has happened. This wears borrowers down. They become worn down by the ducking and diving in which regulated entities, namely, the agent, engage. This is the cause of greatest concern to borrowers because they want to deal with the issue but cannot do so. I ask the Central Bank to focus on this matter.

I want to question Professor Lane about the courts. While the number of repossessions is low, that does not mean that only the odd repossession case is turning up in court. I attend sittings of the registrar's court and other courts and they are backed up with cases. The master's court may deal with 40 or 50 cases in one sitting. All the banks and their representatives are doing is stalling the ball until they squeeze the borrower to the point where he or she agrees to voluntary surrender. There is nothing voluntary about such surrenders because the borrowers have been squeezed into agreeing to them. I ask the Central Bank to examine the role of these agents and the work of the vulture funds and determine for itself whether its understanding of the position is correct or whether it agrees with me that there is a case to be answered. Will Professor Lane give an undertaking to examine the agents who are representing the vulture funds?