Mr. Edmund Honohan:

The problem with it is a problem of perception. People say, because these people are not paying their debts, why give them more State money? There is a political risk attaching to that. If I am paying my mortgage, I do not see why my neighbour down the road should get legal aid to fight his case to get a reduction. Unfortunately, from a social point of view, we have to say that is not now something we have to embrace because we are good European citizens and we are going to apply the new directive. Therefore, legal aid is right.