Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Judging by the small print, if I am reading the figures correctly, we may be back here again. The Minister has been careful not to provide us with too much of a breakdown.

Will the Minister explain this in a manner which ordinary business people can understand? He stated that it is hoped we will obtain a 10% to 15% premium in terms of long term economic value. I received a letter the other day from a person who is falling behind in mortgage payments and is facing the prospect of house repossession. Does the Minister know what happens when a bank repossesses a house? People who work in the courts are concerned about the level of likely repossessions following passage of this legislation and Christmas. When a bank repossess a house, either through the courts or by agreement - many repossession cases do not reach the courts as many people simply hand over the keys to the house - it is empowered to sell that house for whatever price it can achieve.

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