Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle knows, we are very equal in the Rural Independent Group.

Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Mícheál Mac Craith. I compliment Deputy Michael McGrath on the introduction of this Bill. I know he has put a lot of work, energy and research into this legislation. It is timely that it is before the House this evening. I am supporting it wholeheartedly. Any efforts in this area must be examined. I note that Deputy Donnelly, rather than Deputy McGrath, is now present on behalf of Fianna Fáil. I hope the important Bill that Deputy McGuinness and I are trying to introduce, if the Ceann Comhairle - the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's boss - will leave us, will get support from all of Fianna Fáil and not just from Deputy McGuinness. A great deal of work has been put into the Bill in question, which has been prepared by Ed Honohan and many other distinguished people.

We have a collective duty to try to ensure the people who have been terrorised and traumatised by this massive crisis can get some breathing space, some hope and some light at the end of the tunnel. They need to live again. As Deputy Joan Collins said, people did not bring this crisis on themselves. They showed the courage and tenacity to house themselves by getting mortgages to buy houses or by securing planning permission and getting builders, thereby stimulating the economy. They were prudent most of the time, although the banks sometimes gave them too much money. Those who sought to house themselves were not like some people here who want everything for nothing and want to pay for nothing. I refer to those who say "can't pay, won't pay". The decent people I am talking about were stung when the economy crashed badly.

We have been paralysed here. We bailed out the banks. I voted for the bank guarantee. It was the biggest mistake I ever made in my life and I will regret it until the day I die. We bailed out the banks, but now they are giving two fingers to families, insolvency practitioners and everybody else. The mortgage-to-rent scheme has been an abject failure. There are some very good points in this Bill. We have had elections in the meantime. Before one of them, Deputy Burton promised she would do what had been done in Iceland. When she came in, she got frozen in ice and stuck to the seat. She did nothing. She was paralysed. That is what it was all about. We have too many promises.

I wish the Minister and the Minister of State well. We need to get stuck in here. We need to allow these people to live again by giving them some sort of help along the way. These difficulties are causing all kinds of illness and family trauma, including marriage break-up and children in care. If all of us who are here are worth our salt, we have to sort this out. Someone has to put manners and respect on the lending institutions that were helped out. All they see now is profit. I learned today that an ex-Bank of Ireland man, who received big pensions and big pay-offs here, is making profit out of the miserable and unfortunate people of Africa. I compliment Deputy Michael McGrath and the people who have helped him, including his staff who did the research. I am supporting this Bill. I hope the Government will give it a favourable response.

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