Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will not be distracted because the issue of mortgage arrears is too important and central to the lives of too many people for Deputy O'Dea to be making silly comments about it. He should be ashamed of his part in it. The Government has put in place a comprehensive programme of action to assist mortgage holders. The Personal Insolvency Act was signed into law last December. The Insolvency Service of Ireland has begun taking applications from 9 September. The Central Bank has set targets requiring the main mortgage lenders to offer durable solutions and has launched a framework for a pilot approach. We can give a comprehensive focus on that because we are determined that this issue will be resolved and resolved it will be. It will take time and is very complex.

In respect of the question about bankers and the Anglo Irish Bank tapes, every member of this Government and every elected Member on this side of the House was as shocked and, bluntly, as nauseated listening to those tapes as the general public was. It was characteristic of the attitude that prevailed in banking at the time. I believe it has substantially changed but there needs to be an accounting. However, I will not say anything here that would lessen the prospect of people who have verged over the edge of criminality being held accountable before the courts. The prosecution services of this State, which are entirely independent of the Government, as is right, have been working assiduously gathering the information and we all expect that there will be a conclusion that will hold people to account.

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