Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am not too sure Deputy Boyd Barrett would recognise a happy day if he saw one. Does he think we live at one remove from ordinary people? Does he not think people walk in to the offices of members of Government parties to talk about their problems? Does he not think they express their concerns, anxiety and distress about the challenge they face every day in their lives? They do, and the Personal Insolvency Bill is an incentive for banks to get on with it. They have been recapitalised to the extent that they can deal with mortgage arrears, mortgage distress and people's concerns. At the Economic Management Council meetings, we have encouraged the banks to put teams together to sit down with people, to work out solutions from the Keane report or from another facility, such as mortgage to rent, split mortgages, mortgage to lease or part write-downs without having recourse to personal insolvency. There is a real incentive for the banks and lending institutions to sit down with their customers and work out individual solutions. That is what it takes because a particular formula does not fit every case. Each case is different given the human circumstances, where the people live, and whether they are working. We encourage that process.

In the case of Deputy Boyd Barrett, impossible is the measure of his satisfaction. I do not know who Deputy Boyd Barrett meets in his constituency or whether he has a good word to say about anybody ever. We tried to help in the best way we can those who are in distress and who have concerns and anxieties. For Deputy Boyd Barrett to suggest you do not meet people like this everyday is complete and utter nonsense.

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