Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I wonder sometimes about the function of these meetings. While members are allowed to speak and ask questions, where is the policy response? I am not sure there has been any policy response at Government level since our most recent meeting in April. Whatever we say about mortgages and repossessions, in the summer of 2013 the Government had a law voted in that facilitated the banks. Many of us bitterly opposed the legislation at the time. I am not surprised the banks have used the law to their best advantage as they have been allowed to do so by the Government. We must show some realism on this issue. My party continues to bitterly oppose the law in question and we stand up for those who have been driven into the courts as a result of the actions of the banks and the change in the law made by the Government in the summer of 2013. Those are the facts.

The Government introduced a number of schemes, including the mortgage-to-rent scheme, to assist people in difficulty. What are Mr. Boucher's views on the mortgage-to-rent scheme? Given that a number of stakeholders are involved in the scheme, it is important to hear the views of Bank of Ireland on it.