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

Like other speakers I do not wish to delay the proceedings. I was here last night during the course of the debate. The only issue about which I have a concern, and I have already expressed this to the Minister, is I have an allergy in respect of equations. The Ceann Comhairle and I will remember that we had an equation to determine eligibility for local authority loans in the past with disastrous consequences. It was virtually impossible to understand what the equation meant and different people had different interpretations. A line was taken from this by the building societies and lending agencies and we know the consequences there. Having regard to this experience over a long number of years and having voiced a strong opinion against the use of the equation at the time I would always add a chapter or text to explain an equation in clear and simple terms-----

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