Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the issues that comes up again and again in regard to assistance of any description in respect of mortgage relief, and in general, is the question of keeping in touch with inflation. That is important and it has to be done but we must be careful always that we do not push inflation further and create a problem when it comes down. For the people who expect relief in that area I know that it cannot come down quick enough and that it takes longer to filter through to them in terms of the benefits proposed. We must accept that the potential beneficiaries may have a worry that they are under constant pressure from one source or another so they want it to happen now. The important point is that when inflation is on a downward trajectory we should not allow a situation to develop whereby we are feeding inflation as well or pushing it ahead because that has happened in the past and it does not do anything for anybody, including the people for whom it was intended.