Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are dealing with the people affected daily in our clinics. We are dealing with the upset and trauma being caused to families and the damage inflicted on their financial situations. It is no wonder that we and others have brought motions like this before the House. We want to see the Minister bring in legislation that has teeth and power and that will be meaningful to the people in our society who feel vulnerable. It is our duty. We are here as elected representatives to help those people. That is why we are asking the Minister to not just pay lip service to this motion and to not just state he is taking it on board while coming up with a counter proposal, as he has done, to water it down and change it.

We are trying to be decisive and firm. The Government and the Dáil should be united behind people who are trying to work and pay their debts in a respectable fashion. Those people are only trying to get on in life, rear their children and educate them in the best way possible. All they want is a fair crack of the whip. They certainly do not want to see billionaires and vulture funds coming into this country and taking over without proper legislation being in place to provide protection.

Another thing I cannot let go without mention tonight is what is going on now with what are called our pillar banks. Not many things drive me mad. I am angered, however, when I see advertisements stating that a bank is "Backing Brave" and putting workers first and all of the rest of this rubbish. Banks are trying to give the impression that they are loaning out money. They are not. That is the case with AIB in particular. It is impossible for anybody to get money from that bank. Every possible obstacle is placed in the way of a potential borrower. AIB is making it impossible for anybody, whether young or middle-aged and beyond, to borrow money.

I would not have a problem with that if the bank were to admit to what is happening. I would accept it if AIB stated tomorrow that it, and the other banks, are shut down, not loaning money and making it impossible for borrowers. I would accept it if the bank told people to not waste their time going in. That is what the banks are doing now and I am sick of seeing what is happening to people. I am sick of hearing stories about people being fooled and codded up to their eyeballs by people in suits regarding why money cannot be loaned. We must remember that those banks would not exist and would not be in business now except for the taxpayers.

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