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

I thank the Minister of State. I accept the regulations that are in place do not always fit the situation. Invariably we come across situations from time to time in which a proposal is made to the lending agency based on the ability of the borrower to meet it. Invariably it is rejected and the borrower is told it is not sustainable. It is not sustainable for the lending agency, but it is sustainable for the borrower.

I would like to mention another issue. The lending institutions are taking full advantage of the housing crisis in this country by ejecting from their houses as many people as they can in the run-up to Christmas. Needless to say I am not surprised, but it should not and cannot be allowed to continue. I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply but I suggest it is time to issue a warning of some description to the lending agencies instead of allowing them to treat our House of Parliament with contempt.

The situation regarding ATMs in Leinster House is another example of this. It was decided that not enough money was being made from them. During one of the lockdowns, it was decided to close them all down and take them away. This was in line with the banks' decision to phase out ATMs. The fact is that ATMs are a concession to the customer, of whom there are many in this House. It was short change on the part of the lending institutions to thumb their noses at the House of Parliament and that should not be allowed to go unchallenged.

I will raise this issue again. I am sure others will do likewise because it will emerge to a greater extent as time goes by. They will deny it, but the fact is that numerous proposals were made after careful study and a time-consuming process in order to resolve the problem to everybody's satisfaction at the time. They were all ignored.

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