Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

These were the same banks that Deputy Doherty, in fulsome language, was so happy to guarantee a mere three years ago. I want to be absolutely clear that this Government is dealing with the issue of mortgage difficulties. We have increased the level of mortgage interest relief for people who bought at the height of the boom. We have established a working group to deal with the issue of mortgage difficulties. That group's report was debated in the House and its recommendations are to be implemented, as the Minister for Finance indicated in his budget speech. A plan will be introduced to that effect. When the last decrease in interest rates occurred, the Government called in the banks and, if necessary, we will do so again.

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