Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the fact that the Minister will publish the report after the Cabinet has considered it. I hope he will publish it next week. It is important that all of us, who have a collective responsibility to assist people who are in difficulty with mortgages, have an opportunity to debate the report and to contribute to the decisions that will be made. A greater sense of urgency is required on this issue. I acknowledge that the Government considered it necessary to set up another review and its report has now been completed. However, people who are in difficulty with their mortgages want to know when the Government will take decisions that will assist them. How soon after next week are we likely to see legislation, if necessary, to implement the recommendations of the report? Elements of it have been leaked in recent days, and reports of its content are not terribly inspiring. However, we will wait to see the detail.

Would the Minister agree that what is really needed is independent intervention whereby binding solutions can be put in place? Fianna Fáil is of the view that a debt settlement and mortgage resolution office must be established to deal with a person's entire debt, including his or her personal debt as well as mortgage debt. An individually tailored solution can then be put in place for each person's circumstances. Does the Minister agree that is the way forward?

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