Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment Deputy Joan Collins on proposing this excellent and timely Private Members’ motion. I thank her and Deputy Finian McGrath for giving me some time to address it.

While I agree with most speakers, I do not agree with Deputy Ruth Coppinger. We have to be responsible in this matter. The motion is measured and responsible and I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, will listen as so far the Government has not done so. I voted in favour of the infamous bank guarantee - my biggest political mistake with which I have to live. We were fooled and lied to by the banks. The Minister for Finance at the time passed the message on to us that there would be no money in bank machines - no money to pay for anything - if it was not introduced. Where were all of the senior officials in the Department of Finance, the advisers and all those supposed to know then? We have been paying the price ever since.

We bailed out the banks, but they are now giving the two fingers every hour of every day to every person, be they in business or mortgage arrears. The Government is, however, unable and unwilling to deal with the banks. I have raised the matter of the carry-on of the banks with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance on the Order of Business and other occations dozens of times, as well as the fact that the heads of a Central Bank consolidation Bill have not been prepared to bring the outlandish behaviour of the banks and the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, under control. According to the Central Bank’s figures, in the second quarter of 2014, 90,343 mortgages on primary family dwellings - homes, not buy-to-lets - were seriously in arrears. Up to 31,749 mortgages on buy-to-let properties were in arrears for 90 days or more. These two figures account for almost 33% of all mortgages. There is a tsunami coming down the line, while all the banks want are tidy books to show that they are up and running and doing business for the European stress tests. They are not, however, doing business with farmers or those involved in small businesses.

One has to deal with different personnel in the banks, but they are often unreasonable. I dealt with the case of a family in my office last week who were refused a mortgage by AIB because the husband had missed a €7 payment on a credit card bill. Today, €7 would not even buy 20 fags. Thankfully, in the end Bank of Ireland gave him a mortgage. The banks are looking for excuses to kill the bit of spirit and initiative in people and families who want to take out a mortgage to buy a home, settle down, rear a family and provide for themselves. They are being crucified by the Government and the Central Bank because of the lack of legislation. I compliment the Land League and other groups which represent families in mortgage distress and are trying to prevent homes from being repossessed. As Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice said, the mess of repossession has to be cleaned up by the Department of Social Protection and others. Many couples took out starter mortgages several years ago and now, after having children, wish to move to family-sized accommodation, but they are being prevented from doing so because of the lack of mobility in the employment market. Have we looked at the social consequences of this and the indelible mark it will leave on people for generations?

Some of the banks are returning to profitability and paying their way. However, we bailed out the banks and it is time there was a quid pro quo. It is time they had some understanding and respect for taxpayers who have suffered so much. That is why we saw so many out marching on Saturday and it is not just about Irish Water. Many people I know will pay for water if the issue is handled properly but not by a quango. So much has been taken from the people; they have been kicked in the teeth too many times. The spirit of the people has been resilient to withstand all of this. Will the Government listen and introduce some legislation to deal with rogue banks and bankers? We have a sham of a banking inquiry several years after the introduction of the bank guarantee.

The Government is more interested in dealing with the consequences for the next general election than it is in dealing with people's misery. Such people want to do a deal with the bank. They are not running away or expecting the State to pick up their mortgage, but they do expect to be dealt with fairly. They should not be subject to a penal rate of interest or threatening and intimidatory phone calls night and day. They then face the daunting prospect of going to court.

I was shocked to note recently that in courts around the country the Garda Síochána was mobilised to stop lay-people attending court cases as helpers or advisers for these organisations. They were not causing trouble or disrupting the court, but were there because such people could not afford legal representation. They had lay-people willing to help them but security staff were not allowing them into court. We cannot do this to our people. It is time the Government recognised that. It is time it woke up and smelled the coffee.

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