Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)

There has been much critique of this framework document which states clearly that it does not pretend to have the answer to every problem. I compliment the Minister for Finance because after only 20 weeks this group was up and running, so to speak, and in a limited framework of nine weeks we are here discussing it. This problem did not arise last February or March. As my colleague, Deputy McCarthy, pointed out, people were having a problem with mortgage debt in late 2007 and early 2008. We should deal with facts in regard to it.

This document is not a solution to every problem but for those of us in the Labour Party as part of this Government and our colleagues in Fine Gael, the bottom line is to keep people at risk of losing their family home in their homes. Whatever about the other facets of it the bottom line is that no one will be declared homeless. That is what this report is about, and when the legislation comes before the House it will be for all Members of the House to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that no family should be declared homeless as a result of difficulties with their mortgage.

This is a compassionate document about a human problem where there are children involved, etc. I read some of the critique of it and some people seem to have a hang-up about the possibility that some people may become council tenants. I say to those, without naming them, that I was born in a council estate. My parents were council tenants. I now live in a council estate and I am proud of it. The fear that some people may be declared council tenants is rubbish. Have we learned nothing from the Celtic tiger years when we got carried away, and some people are still being carried away? I look forward to the legislation and have great confidence that this Government will deliver a compassionate resolution to the difficulties of mortgage debt.

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