Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this legislation. The bottom line is that we all have a duty to assist families in mortgage arrears. Turning our backs on these people is not an option. Throwing families out of their homes is not a realistic solution to the problem. The Government must up its game and take on board the solutions put forward during this debate. We need to tackle the bank veto and limit home repossessions. Only today I heard about a family with a child with autism who were turfed out of their home by a bank. Now they are forced to live in a hotel room. Do the members of this Government know what it is like, first, for a family with a child with autism and, second, for a family to have to live in a hotel bedroom with a child with a disability? The Government must get real. When sensible legislation like this comes before the House, we all should support it.

Families throughout this country are in pain and they need our support. Let there be common sense and compassion. Most people want to repay their debts, but we must help them to do so rather than letting the banks throw them onto the streets. In tonight's debate, I am focusing on family homes and those who have lost their jobs or suffered huge reductions in pay in the past eight years. They are the people I am concerned about, not the fat cats in our society. Many of the latter played a part in wrecking our country, along with senior banks and other greedy individuals. What planet are Ministers living on when they oversee an insolvency service under which only 199 cases were approved by personal insolvency practitioners? There are 118,000 families in need of support immediately. We must assist those who wish to avail of the mortgage to rent option. Some 3,500 families need that assistance now and the banks must get involved.

Let us deal in sensible solutions and support this Bill. The Irish people bailed out the banks; now it is time to assist families with major mortgage difficulties. That is what this Bill is about and I commend Deputy Michael McGrath on bringing it forward. We have to listen constantly to Ministers claiming the Opposition has no policies and no solutions. This proposal offers a solution that will help people. I urge all Deputies to support these sensible provisions at 9 p.m. tomorrow.

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