Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. I too compliment my colleague, Deputy Michael McGrath, on the tremendous work he has done to produce this Bill to meet an urgent need in a relatively short period. To address the remark from across the floor that the mortgage problem dates back two years, while we all know the economic crisis started in late 2007 and 2008, the problem has only become this acute in the past six to eight months. The Law Reform Commission produced a significant body of work on this issue and its report has been helpful to Deputy McGrath in the preparation of the Bill. I remind Deputy Ciarán Lynch that the commission first reported in Christmas week of 2010. To suggest, therefore, that the issue could have been resolved or options were available two years ago is wide of the mark.

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