Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for being present and responding to the questions. I acknowledge that the Government has agreed to accept the Second Reading of the Private Member's Bill yesterday. The public would like to see the House working collectively rather than points-scoring in a partisan fashion.

Does the Minister not accept that one cannot just deal with mortgage debt on its own? Anyone with a mortgage debt will also have many other debts. The report is an important input into the debate but it is only an input. I accept the Minister is open to other proposals. Personal debt must be taken into account.

There is a big emphasis in the report, because it is in the terms of reference, on mortgage interest relief. Approximately 18,000 people benefit from mortgage interest relief but there are probably 60,000 or 70,000 people on rent supplement issued through social welfare payments, the local authorities and the HSE. That is part of the funding the Exchequer is providing towards housing. That was not dealt with in the report but it is part of the mix. It does not relate to people with mortgages but it is part of the mix of funding the State provides.

Will the Minister indicate how he sees the approximately €5 billion, which has been provided for the banks to allow for mortgages that will be in difficulty over the next ten years, trickling down to individual customers? It is fine for them to have a general figure but it must be made specific to individual customers somewhere along the line.

Does the Minister consider that there needs to be an intermediary between the bank and individuals because the relationship between them is unequal? People need an intermediary to help them.

People were often shocked to hear about 100% mortgages. The Minister and I are aware from our constituency clinics that banks were giving out 130% mortgages. They gave out the full value of the house, the cost of furnishing it and the cost of the wedding and honeymoon.

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