Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We definitely need political reform because the first minute and 50 seconds of the time allowed for this reply was spent by the Minister on not answering the question. Can we get to the details of this in the minute that I have available? David Hall, who has done sterling work on behalf of those in mortgage arrears and who was involved in the programme for Government negotiations, has spoken on national radio about this issue. It seems some positive elements are emerging from his work there. He mentioned on the Sean O'Rourke show the commitment in the programme for Government that the Government would work with the Central Bank to amend the code of conduct on mortgage arrears to include an obligation on providers of mortgage credit to provide a range of sustainable arrears solutions, and that is what appeared in the programme for Government. He went on to say that this means that all customers in arrears will be offered a split mortgage or a mortgage to rent. Can the Minister confirm that David Hall's interpretation of the outcome of those negotiations is that all those in mortgage arrears will be offered those two options which is a split mortgage and a mortgage to rent? If that is the case, it is a step in the right direction. We have been calling for a long time for all options to be offered to those who needed the solutions being offered by the State.

Also, when will the code of conduct on mortgage arrears be put on a statutory footing? The Minister will remember that this was an argument I put to him. It was contained in my Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill and the Minister gave me ample reasons as to why it should not happen. Can he advise when it will be on a statutory footing? Will the two solutions I mentioned be part of this and, if so, when is it expected they will be introduced?

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