Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the Deputy's first point, neither I nor the Department rules any question out of order. Questions are ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle on the advice of his office.

The Government has made significant efforts to deal with the issue of mortgage arrears. Central Bank data for the second quarter of 2015 which were published on 2 September show just how much progress has been made. The number of principal dwelling home mortgages in arrears continued to fall in the quarter, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of decline and a 22% reduction since the second quarter of 2014. In addition, the Central Bank data show the impact made when borrowers engage with their lenders. Almost 120,000 principal dwelling home mortgages were classified as restructured at the end of the second quarter of 2015, meaning that families can, by working with their financial institutions, find a mechanism to make their mortgage commitments affordable. Of the restructured accounts, more than 86% were deemed to be meeting the terms of their current restructure arrangement.

The Deputy will be aware of the code of conduct on mortgage arrears which provides a strong consumer protection framework for co­operating borrowers to ensure they are treated in a fair and transparent manner by their lenders. Last May the Government also announced further measures to help indebted borrowers and increase awareness of and access to the insolvency framework. Building on action previously taken, the measures include the reform of the personal insolvency framework to give the courts the power to review and, where appropriate, approve insolvency deals that have been rejected by creditors. I understand my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, expects to sign a commencement order later this week to bring the court review provisions of the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2015 into effect.

In addition, the role of the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, has been enhanced. Representatives of MABS and the Insolvency Service of Ireland are now present at court sessions to offer support and advice to borrowers who are the subject of repossession proceedings.

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