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

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have no doubt he will take up the matter with his colleague. I would like the Central Bank to become aware of the situation that affects people in these circumstances. I do not agree with what was said about the satisfactory settlement of 95% of mortgage arrears cases throughout the country. I have a considerable amount of experience in dealing with them, but I will not go into that just now other than to say that I believe there is a good case here for the parties involved to make themselves available to resolve the problem. This is not about who wins. This is not about putting people out on the road. This is not about breaking up a family and shoving parents and their children out on the road. This is about a commercial loan to which the people are making regular payments and have been doing so for the past two to three years. They are willing to increase and enhance those payments. It is about the lending institution, an internationally reputed one, climbing down from its high horse and dealing with people as it should. If it does that, I believe we can achieve an amicable settlement that is acceptable to both the lender and the borrower. We will reserve the right to raise this matter in various other fora as well. With your help, a Cheann Comhairle, I have no doubt the matter will be resolved.

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