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

The Taoiseach did not quite answer the questions I asked him. Does he accept the proposals we are tabling tonight on strengthening the code of conduct in order to protect those in mortgage arrears? I outlined a series of constructive steps we believe should be taken to give genuine protection to those who are in arrears. The Government's only intervention to date has been designed with the Central Bank to facilitate more repossessions of family homes. There is no other way of assessing the situation. The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013 has been changed to facilitate repossessions without conditions. The Government has diluted many of the protections contained in the previous code of conduct in regard to the level of contact banks are allowed with customers and other areas. It has also reduced those entitled to mortgage subsidy. The entire agenda has been to put families in arrears into further jeopardy in terms of their relationship with the banks. There is a disconnect between official utterances and the reality on the ground as experienced by people in mortgage arrears. This is particularly the case for those with equity in their houses, in regard to whom the banks appear to be adopting a more aggressive approach despite the fact that they have the capacity to take up split mortgages or other alternatives. A statistic that speaks for itself is that only 140 split mortgages have been agreed in the last two years. That sums up the inertia and lack of action that have allowed the problem to worsen.

The Taoiseach did not answer my question on the targets. What percentage of sustainable solutions was achieved by the end of June? It was meant to be 20%. What is the actual figure?

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