John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What is happening has to stop. As parliamentarians, we have a choice. We can go down the tired old political route, which is stale and out of date, and protect the status quo. We can ignore all of what is happening in our courts. We can ignore all of the evictions and repossessions. We can ignore people that are in distress with their mortgage and living with a very poor quality of life. We can say that the Bill lacks clarity. We can say that it is not fit for purpose. We can say all of those things and we can reach for any excuse. However, I am asking the Government not to do so. I am asking every single Member of this Parliament to examine the Bill with a view to bringing it to Second Stage in order that we can debate the real issues that are central to society right now with a view to keeping people safe in their homes. I have said it umpteen times; the first obligation of a Government is to keep its people safe.

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