Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The Minister gave the impression in his response that the matter of homeowners was entirely different, and if homeowners came anywhere near this, they would be swallowed up. That is not fair. The Minister has the scope to do something more constructive for homeowners. Other jurisdictions are doing the sort of things that have been suggested, over a longer period and perhaps with some separate support. While I do not know whether that would be involved, the banks should certainly be contributing significantly towards this.

I welcome the Minister's position but I would like to see the terms of the guidelines pinned down a little. Does the Minister intend that they be made available in the House at an early date? Does he intend to make the reporting available in advance so that experienced people, like the accountants we have here, could examine the type of reporting arrangement the Minister is hoping to impose and consult with small business and other interests so we could have something robust?

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