Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The hypocrisy today is odious as Fianna Fáil and the Taoiseach now pretend to champion the very people they helped feed to these vultures three years ago. I have a response to a parliamentary question submitted by Deputy Pearse Doherty which demonstrates that the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and officials from the Department met representatives of vulture funds 60 times in less than two years. That is a serious level of access for the vulture funds. It only serves to emphasise the very cold shoulder and deaf ear that vulnerable mortgage holders have been given.

It is time to be honest and clear. Deputies who oppose this sale and others are obliged to intervene. They must do so to prevent not just this sale but also others from proceeding. I urge the Taoiseach to do the right thing and spare people this nightmare. I am asking him to lift the phone to Permanent TSB and tell it that he and his Government will not permit the sale. I urge him to deal with the current situation. He might also support the legislation Sinn Féin has brought forward to protect homeowners affected by sales to vulture funds. How about this for an idea? Will the Taoiseach issue a direction to the banks and NAMA today that under no circumstances should any domestic mortgages be sold to any vulture fund, either now or in the future? Will he make that phone call? Will he support the legislation and will he issue that direction?

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