Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach's reply is not clear regarding whether there will be a referendum. What he has said gives confusing signals in that regard.

The Oireachtas inquiry provided for in the Bill introduced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, does not have the powers to bring non-officeholders to account or to make any adverse findings regarding the behaviour in the banks. That is a fact and nobody disputes it. Clearly, it falls short of what is required.

With regard to the statement by the Taoiseach that things have now changed in the banks and people can now trust them, which he said in the context of mortgage arrears, I met a family last week that is in that position. There are two children and the husband is in a permanent pensionable job. He is only on 12 months interest-only repayments but last Christmas week he got a telephone call from the bank telling him to start preparing to sell his family home.

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