Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I will address that point before bringing in Deputy Donnelly. This is something that was dealt with in a previous series of meetings. It is the matter of sustainable solutions that may transfer into a person's retirement phase. The resolution process seems to be very much about sorting out debt during a person's working life, if not through the determined period of the schedule of 20 to 25 years. There has been movement by some of the other banks in engaging with the Central Bank and considering what may be sustainable solutions, for example, with cases of people in positive equity who may be in their late 50s or early 60s. These people may not clear the debt by the time they get to retirement but they may be able to sustain an interest-only payment through retirement. That would be far cheaper than having a home repossessed and trying to rent it on the open market, as we know. Has Permanent TSB considered such a long-term solution? I am not suggesting the interest-only solution would be used in all circumstances but in particular cases it may allow somebody to remain in a home while continuing to own it.