Dr. Michael Somers:

I would not tolerate the torture of anybody. I am not in that business. The bank treats people with respect etc. If otherwise was happening, I would be concerned. On a general write-down of debt, money does not come from nowhere. If the bank writes down people's liabilities this hits investment in the State pension fund, into which we have all paid, thus reducing the amount that will be available in due course to pay the pensions of people in this State. There are many chancers in the economy who would be only too happy to have their liabilities written down. Our aim is to deal with genuine cases and to do so sympathetically, leaving people with a reasonable standard of living while trying to restructure their indebtedness. I assure the Deputy we are sincere about this. We are not out to cause unnecessary pain or to torture anybody.