Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste. The Tánaiste comes from the health sector. The person to whom I refer did not have cancer. Irregularities were found. Everything was cleared up, but there is now that little doubt. It is difficult to hear someone say that she wished she had not gone for the smear test before she went for her mortgage because now she is in trouble for what she did. We are encouraging women to make sure that they go for these tests. With this person, everything is sorted but, because there was an irregularity, she is not able to get home protection and cannot draw down her mortgage. I welcome what the Tánaiste said, and I will give him the details of the case.

There is also the other aspect I am seeing in the context of housing estates. I gave one example of houses that were built 40 years ago. No Government body, be it the local authority or the Office of Public Works, has ever red-flagged the estate in question as being one where there could be trouble. However, an insurance company has decided overnight that it cannot insure the residents' houses in respect of flooding. That is a damnable situation for those who have not had any problem whatsoever for 40 years.

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