Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

For Deputy Higgins's information, I appreciate the anxiety and concern of so many people who are so afflicted by mortgage distress. The Government will publish the report tomorrow in full and it will be debated in the House next week for two days if necessary whereby everyone who wants to contribute can do so.

The report furnished to the Government is not the repository of all wisdom but there are two fundamental principles that must be referred to here - the necessity to maintain people in their own homes and to distinguish between those who cannot pay and those who will not pay. I assure the Deputy this is a matter of concern and priority for the Government. When the debate concludes next week, the Minister for Finance will take the strands of what everyone has to say and, in the event there are new ideas, initiatives or matters not referred to in the report or not currently in existence, we will be happy to hear from every Deputy who has an idea that might be worth pursuing. The Minister will draw all of those together and the Government will respond quickly by making decisions. This is a matter that will not be long-fingered and is an issue we intend to follow through on very quickly.

The report will be published tomorrow, there will be a two day debate next week and as all these strands run together, the Minister will respond by drawing them together in the best interests of the individual circumstances that apply in so many cases while adhering to the two principles I have mentioned; that people are not forced out of their homes and that there is a distinction between those who can and those who will not pay.

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