Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy made an important point. There is a reason exemptions are provided for in section 126 of the relevant law. I appreciate that many families are in difficult circumstances because of the effects of this disease on them and many others and this issue is dealing them an even harsher blow. I must be precise here because I do not want to mislead the Dáil. I cannot instruct the banks on how to handle this particular matter. That said, I do appreciate the distress it is causing and I am planning to understand the matter further with the banks, particularly why individual decisions are being made, and to see if there are any policy consequences.

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