Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

This amendment has been ruled out of order and it can only be ruled out of order on the basis of Standing Orders. Standing Order 194, which is used to rule this out of order, says, "It shall be an instruction to all Committees to which Bills may be committed that they have power to make such amendments therein as they shall think fit, provided that such amendments be relevant to the provisions of the Bill and are not in conflict with the principle of the Bill as read a second time." It does have to be tax related, as the Minister stated. It has to be "relevant". The Minister has given a reason for this amendment not to be tabled. Under this Standing Order, it either has to be not relevant to the provisions of the Bill or in conflict with the principles of the Bill. The amendment is clearly not in conflict with the principles of the Bill. Therefore, there is only one other area, that being, the Minister is claiming it is not relevant to the provisions of the Bill. The provisions of the Bill, under section 4, provide millions of euro in taxpayers' money to support mortgageholders, which is something that I support, but the reason for that support is the high interest mortgage rates at this point in time. I seek a report on what the banks are charging at this point in time and if they are passing on the ECB interest rates. I will leave my point there. If this is a trend that is going to happen within the Department - giving advice of this nature - then it will be challenged robustly by me.