Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste is demonstrating remarkable faith in the very banks that issued 15,000 legal repossession letters to families that they believe offer a durable and sustainable solution for these families. The people of Priory Hall have heard terms such as process, stakeholders, solutions and Government commitments, but what we need to know is that they will have the slate wiped clean and that after two torturous years and the tragedy therein, they will have a real opportunity to move on with their lives. Will the Tánaiste tell us whether the option of wiping the slate clean, the necessary solution, is being considered?

The Tánaiste gave us an account of the passage of the personal insolvency legislation, but the difficulty is that we have heard from the horse's mouth, from personal insolvency practitioners, that upfront fees of €5,000 or €7,000 will be required to avail of their services. The Tánaiste needs to tell the public that this is not going to happen and that people will not be barred from the process because of exorbitant fees. Personal insolvency practitioners have said publicly that the banks are already telling them that they will not deal with them in respect of single mortgage holders. The Government has let the banks away with lots as, historically and in contemporary terms, they were allowed to run riot and they hold all the cards. Surely the Tánaiste has something to say when the professionals who will run the service say in public that the banks are already telling them that they will not deal with personal insolvency practitioners in resolving debt issues for families with single mortgages, which represents the bulk of those in distress. The legislation is all well and good, but that does not mean that the Tánaiste's job is done. We must be sure that, owing to excessive fees or an arrogant stance taken by the banks, people will not find themselves on the wrong end of this. I seek assurances from the Tánaiste that he will make sure that, on the issue of fees and the banks playing ball, these matters will be dealt with adequately.

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