Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

There remains a major problem of consumer debt in this economy. That includes personal debt, mortgage debt and the rest of it. It has taken us longer than we would have liked to get to the insolvency legislation that my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality has launched in the House. The length of time required for Second Stage speeches is an indication of the complexity of the Bill. We hope it will work.

We are quite clear the change in property prices in some parts of the Irish market will give some degree of buoyancy and NAMA will soon make proposals on the construction sector.

If Deputy O'Dea were to ask me honestly as distinct from provocatively if we are satisfied with progress, the answer must be "No". As long as people are without a job, I am not satisfied with the progress we have made. All I can say is that the track record of this Administration the last time we were in government, which was far too long ago, is evidence of the fact we can do the job, unlike Fianna Fáil.

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