Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the issue raised by Deputy Gerry Adams, I am glad to hear it is proposed to introduce legislative change in the area of prisons. I wish to ask about two other pieces of legislation in this area. Quite a number of people are being threatened with repossession of their homes, many of whom have continuously made the maximum payments they could afford over the past five or six years. Resolution does not mean the same for everybody as in many cases what appears to be resolution is actually repossession, which means unfortunate people being put out of their homes. In the context of unregulated third parties who bought distressed loan books, is it possible that a distinction can be made so that they are brought within the rigours of our regulations and so that they do not pursue people on the basis of a quick fix, having bought the loanbook at a reduced rate to capitalise on the unfortunate situation people are in?

I believe it is necessary to bring banking consolidation Bill before the House as a matter of urgency in this context.

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