Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be straight with the Deputy, I have no problem whatsoever in meeting the group and I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will do the same on the insurance issues. Perhaps we can meet them together. These are genuine issues. These homeowners should not be in this situation and the banks need to adopt a supportive role when it comes to helping them because there will be issues. As the Deputy rightly said, the asset values are greatly reduced. They will need help in the journey to reconstructing or remediating their homes - issues will arise there. As the Deputy said, I know the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, BPFI, is in correspondence with the mica group. My understanding is that it will put in place a process of structured dialogue with the mica group as well. I am sure I can speak for the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in saying that we will be happy to jointly meet with the group to discuss banking and insurance issues to see if we can help to support them to work through the issues that will continue for a number of years.

See this speech in context