Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They wonder if they will have a home in a year's time or in two year's time. For many of those 37,000 people in arrears of two years or more, the letters have already arrived. When this Government took office, repossessions were not happening because of the Gunn judgment. However, one of the first actions of the Government was to bow down to the banks and unleash them to move on repossessions. The Central Bank figures show that as of last September, the accounts in arrears of more than 720 days constitute 31.8% of all accounts in arrears and 73% of all outstanding arrears. As we sit here and decide to do a bit more marketing, as the Minister says, 37,484 family homes are in the most serious of arrears and each is potentially facing legal action. When these figures were first published in September 2012, a total of 20,000 were in that category. That is the record of this Government. The Minister and Deputy Barry tell us that we should not be scare-mongering but rather we should give the message that we are doing something about it. The Government is adding to the number of people who are in long-term arrears of two years and more.

Last April I brought forward the Land and Conveyancing Reform (Amendment) Bill on behalf of Sinn Féin. Like tonight and tomorrow, at that time we heard the Government's reasons for rejecting the Bill. Then, like tonight, there was no logic as to the reason it was rejected and then, like now, I was told that the problem was under control and firm action was being taken. The truth is that the Government does not want to rock the boat. The repossession agenda of the banks is part of a deal made with this Government. The banks are being allowed to unwind the mortgages any way they like and the Government will not intervene.

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