Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have said what I said. The people in suits orchestrating this did not get where they are by being nice. During my occupation last Tuesday of my own bank in Kilcash in my own count I got calls from locations in County Longford, in Tullamore and in Dublin. I was told other instances like this happened in those locations. The Minister of State's colleague from Wexford, Senator Michael D'Arcy, raised this in the Seanad yesterday. This is happening on a nightly basis so we must deal with the issue.

The Minister of State spoke about a code of practice. Why did it take from 1989 for the code of practice to be implemented in 2012? We are looking at it again. Codes of practice mean virtually nothing to these people, as they are ruthless, dogmatic and their actions are bordering on terrorism. I am not saying that where there is a complete breakdown in communications, banks cannot carry out repossessions. The sheriff may have bad connotations but at least those people are authorised. They must have a bearer's letter and court order. I was told by the managing director of the bank, with a solicitor and the gentleman I spoke about present, that the leasing and hire-purchase agreement was more powerful than a court order. If the people in the banks believe that, we are in big trouble. They have that belief and are acting on it.

The Minister of State is a businessman and knows about the effects of this serious trauma. This practice must stop before somebody is seriously injured or killed. Our people are bailing out the banks and although this institution is not covered, the Minister of State has said it is supported. There are only two directors and we do not even know the identity of the parent banks. It is an evolving issue. The bank in question is only acting as a debt collector at this stage and it has no interest in this country or economy. It has no interest in farmers or other business people who have leases. It is collecting money so it is no good to anybody except in feathering its nest.

I appeal to the Minister of State as a business person of some repute with much experience. He knows what is going on. We have a legitimate Garda force and an Army. We cannot have a third force, a militia, so it should be stood down.

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