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

Deputy Doherty mentioned that Mr. Drumm is in a prison cell. I mentioned Ms Yvonne Walsh and her case but I will not ask the witnesses about it. Members of her family are here today watching proceedings.

Much of what is happening in the courts could be avoided by people engaging with the banks or vice versa. I am not referring to the pros and cons of the case itself. I am just making the point that it seems extreme that a mother can be jailed so quickly, almost on a criminal basis, without the matter being resolved until later today when it takes years to do anything else. There is a human cost in the sale of properties to vulture funds and other entities. Regardless of what the witnesses might think about litigation and people testing cases in court, be they lay litigants representing themselves or legal professionals acting on their behalf, it is staggering that something like this could happen in Ireland today. As legislators, we need to focus on the reasons for it. Ms Walsh's two daughters are present. They are 15 years of age. I find it upsetting, but I cannot imagine how it has affected them and their lives. Banks have to consider everything in the context of rights, family homes and how people are affected by the decisions that are being made.