Dáil debates

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

3:40 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have met dozens of gardaí during the past number of months who feel completely ignored by the Government and who feel there is a fundamental lack of respect for the work that they do on behalf of society and our citizens. It is clear to me that morale in An Garda Síochána is at an all-time low and at a tipping point. Gardaí feel ignored by the current Government. They are fed up with the continued attack on front line services. Crime levels, particularly theft and burglary, are up in many areas. Gardaí are facing a disproportionate cut to their pay as per the Croke Park II pay deal. In addition, to add insult to injury, a very dismissive Minister for Justice and Equality accuses the Garda representative bodies of doing a disservice to the gardaí. I would like to know on what planet is the Minister for Justice and Equality in regard to this. Has he any sense of the anger on the ground among rank and file gardaí?

It would be far better for him if he got rid of that dismissive attitude and engaged with the Garda representative bodies, who are articulating genuine concerns. Deputies from all sides of the House have had notice of and heard those concerns from gardaí. All the Minister does is attack them. He should listen more. He has closed more than 100 rural Garda stations because he believes that will lead to more efficient policing. He believes that a Garda car miles away from everything is better than a physical presence in a community.

Changes to the pay of those in front-line services and the Garda Síochána are disproportionate. Their job is fundamentally different because they put themselves in harm's way on behalf of society and our citizens. They risk their lives on behalf of our citizens. Does the Taoiseach agree with the Minister when he says of the AGSI and GRA that they are doing a disservice to gardaí? Does he accept that Garda morale is very low, and what does he intend to do to restore that morale?

3:50 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am very careful to recognise the fundamentally important job that gardaí do in putting themselves between criminals and law-abiding citizens. Deputy Martin is well aware that rank and file gardaí are not in a trade union and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors is not a trade union. However, for years, in discussions and negotiations about pay and conditions, rank and file gardaí and the AGSI have had the opportunity, through the Labour Relations Commission, to make a parallel case to the Government of the day in respect of their concerns and anxieties.

It is fair to say that gardaí, in the nature of their job, put themselves between law-abiding citizens and criminals. It is also true to say that firefighters and prison officers put their lives on the line. In both of those cases the unions representing these front-line workers stayed at the negotiations, and because they did so the original proposals were changed, as subsequently clarified by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The discussions are now over and the trade unions are quite rightly considering their views of the outcome. They deserve the opportunity and space to make their decision. I have met gardaí in various locations around the country and have made the point that it would have been preferable had the Garda Representative Association and the AGSI continued to use the parallel facility of making their case and making their concerns and anxieties known, heard and deliberated on at the table where those negotiations were conducted in the same way that firefighters and prison officers did.

I do not accept that one can categorise and divide front-line workers into sectors. Those who stand in front of classrooms and those who look after water systems in local authorities are front-line workers, and there are a great many front-line workers in the country whose unions represented them either directly or in a parallel fashion at the discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach did not answer both of my questions. The first was whether he agrees with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, that the representative bodies were doing a disservice to their members, and the second was whether he accepts that Garda morale is very low. I would like a straight answer to the second question. Does the Taoiseach accept that Garda morale is very low?

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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The gardaí I heard yesterday were not happy.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Every time the Taoiseach says that a desk job, a clerical job or a teacher's job is the same as that of a garda, he does a disservice to gardaí. He shows a fundamental lack of respect for what they do. Their job is different from those of most other public servants. They did not have SIPTU representing them, as did others whom the Taoiseach mentioned. No one else is out chasing subversives across the country at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. with their lives at risk, or chasing armed criminal gangs who show absolutely no respect for human life. We know that and have seen it demonstrated. Their job is different. It is disingenuous of the Taoiseach to suggest that if they went into talks they would get back their double pay on a Sunday. Is the Taoiseach saying that?

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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They were not even asked.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is a divide-and-conquer routine of the most cynical kind, which the Taoiseach should abandon. It is either fair, just and right, or it is not. If it is good enough for one group it should be good enough for the Garda Síochána. The Taoiseach should forget the pettiness about whether the Garda groups were represented. The Government has an obligation to arrest this decline in Garda morale - to stop it, call it off, get involved, stop dismissing and undermining gardaí and stop showing a basic lack of respect for the fundamental role they play in protecting our society and citizens.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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We need to get a new Minister for Justice and Equality first.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not accept the Deputy's attempts to court popularity with the Garda in a blatantly political fashion.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Of course people in the public service do a variety of different jobs. It may well be - and often is - the case that gardaí are on the front line when emergencies occur, whether they involve criminals, natural catastrophes such as floods, serious accidents or whatever, but many front-line workers such as firefighters and prison officers put their lives on the line. Deputy Martin should not come in here and attempt to adjudicate on how the Government regards different sectors of the public service. That is beneath him.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have every right to come in here and articulate on behalf of the Garda, or anybody else for that matter.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is beneath the Deputy. He has his chorus behind him. They can continue to interrupt if they want.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have every right to do it and I am entitled to raise these questions. We live in a democracy.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputies should keep quiet.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Martin had his chance to ask a question.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Would the Taoiseach answer it, please?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Those other providers of front-line services who put their lives on the line, including firefighters and prison officers, stayed and made their case about premium payments, overtime, weekend rosters, unsocial hours and activities in the public interest-----

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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They were represented by trade unions.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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They were represented by trade unions. There were signed deals done left, right and centre.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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They have also put their lives on the line. Of course I have absolute respect for the Garda Síochána and its work.

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is not showing it.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would have preferred if it had stayed at the table. As its members are not in a trade union, they would have been able to make their case through the Labour Relations Commission directly to the negotiating table.

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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So it is all their fault.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That would have been far preferable, because they would have had a real opportunity to raise their concerns and anxieties about their pay and conditions for discussion. Every public servant makes a contribution, and for sectors among those whose lives are on the line who stayed at those talks-----

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Taoiseach support his Minister for Justice and Equality?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----changes were made in respect of premium payments, weekend rosters, unsocial hours and other such commitments.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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So the Taoiseach punishes the Garda?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would have preferred if the Garda and the AGSI had done the same.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Taoiseach support the Minister?

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach has no comment on the Minister.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday, Sinn Féin published legislation providing for the abolition of the family home tax.

Photo of Robert DowdsRobert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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The Deputy's party is implementing it in the North.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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This tax is lifted straight out of Fianna Fáil's four-year plan. It is the latest blow that this Government has delivered to hard-pressed families. One in four mortgage holders are in distress, yet he asks the same families to pay this unfair tax. It takes no account of ability to pay, negative equity, mortgages in arrears, or indeed the thousands of euro that many have already paid in stamp duty.

Last week we learnt that homes in ghost estates will also be levied with this tax. Only 5,100 houses will be exempt, compared with the 43,000 which were exempted from the household charge. It was a "stupid decision", "ham-fisted", "unfair", a "complete mess". These are not my words but those of some of the Taoiseach's Labour Party colleagues in government.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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That was Deputy Stagg.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Taoiseach accept that the Government has made a mess of this issue? Does he accept that it is fundamentally unfair for families living in unfinished ghost estates to be hit with this tax? Can he indicate whether the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, is revisiting the issue of ghost estates and the payment of this tax? Does he accept that many families in this State will be pushed over the edge, over their own fiscal cliff, by the Government's insistence on imposing this tax?

4:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's party has not made the same case in Northern Ireland where property taxes apply and its representatives support these on the basis of the provision of local services. The local property tax is for the purpose of contributing to the provision of public services for people all over the country. The mechanics of the tax have been worked out by the Revenue Commissioners. Half of it is due in 2013 and full payment in 2014. People in various parts of the country will receive letters concerning the tax over the next several weeks.

Last year, in respect of the €100 household charge, there were blanket exemptions given to many housing estates, of which there were 43,000 houses mentioned. Of that figure, 20,000 houses were empty and uninhabited. It was not a true reflection of an exemption because there was nothing paid in respect of these houses. Of the remainder, there are 5,000 to 6,000 houses in estates where remedial works have been carried out. This is a far more accurate assessment of who is actually liable for the property tax for this and next year.

The Deputy will also be aware that 65% of these will apply for local areas in 2013. She is also aware that housing estates that were given blanket exemptions in respect of the household charge were started in different stages. One might have the front element of an estate finished with the middle section incomplete and the back section not even started. An entire estate may have been given an exemption in the first place.

The Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, clarified all of this last week with up-to-date accurate information. There are opportunities for people who own such houses to contribute in a variety of fashions to the services to be provided in their local areas.

It is not unusual for Deputy McDonald to come into the Chamber claiming this is unfair and unjust, yet up the road a few miles she finds a similar tax fair and just.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Given that the Taoiseach refers to it so often, I would have expected him to do his homework and familiarise himself with the significant difference between the system of rating in the North and the tax on the family home he is proposing. For instance in the North, citizens do not pay for their bin collection. There is no suggestion of people paying for domestic water. People have provision of schoolbooks for their children and so forth. I am sure the Taoiseach knows this. However, he bounces this ball to try and distract from his own shortcomings and the reality as it pertains in this State.

The Taoiseach asks us to believe that Deputy Hogan, the magician Minister, has magically resolved the issues pertaining to ghost estates. That simply is not the case. I saw the Taoiseach was out on the ground in Meath East recently. I am sure if he had taken the trouble to talk to the many people who live in such estates there, they would have set out clearly how realities have not changed from one year to another. The Taoiseach, however, is quite satisfied to ask people who cannot afford this additional tax, those on welfare payments and pensions to pay it. He is quite satisfied to allow Revenue to reach into their pockets. He is quite happy to preside over a situation where people living in little more than building sites will be asked to pay this tax.

However, the Taoiseach's candidate in the current Meath East by-election says differently. She claims, on the Taoiseach's behalf I imagine, that the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, and the Government will revisit this issue and examine the criteria again. I can only take from the Taoiseach's response this afternoon that the candidate in question has been misled on that score. Is the Taoiseach insisting that those who have suffered the stress, inconvenience and hardship of living in unfinished and ghost estates must cough up with everyone else to pay this unfair tax?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald has attempted to change the household charge into a property tax. The first lesson she should learn is that they are different things.

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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It is a bondholders' tax.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The second issue is that the refuse charge and the property charge in the Republic will still be very much less than the taxes imposed in Northern Ireland, which are on average three times greater. Deputy McDonald should do her own homework on her friends and supporters up there as to what they are actually paying.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach should do his homework.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am not at all happy that Deputy McDonald should know whether I am happy or not about issues such as this. She does not need to put words in my mouth. She has been doing that for years with other parties and other individuals.

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Taoiseach did not look too happy yesterday with that big fellow in front of him. He was looking at his shirt pocket.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald does not speak for me or the Fine Gael Party.

In respect of the household charge last year, the survey carried out in 2012 was purely and objectively based on the actual state of completion of a development. It expressly included estates deemed by local authorities to have seriously problematic conditions, regardless of whether the developer was on or off the site. This year a clear definition of seriously problematic estates includes issues such as installation and commissioning of public lighting, the provision of drinking water supply, provision of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems.

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There are estates in question that have not been taken over by local authorities.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It also includes issues such as having an access road to at least a base course level including, where required, provision for parking and provision of access to the dwelling by a constructed footpath. These are issues that are deemed to be seriously problematic.

It ill behoves the Deputy to cast aspersions on one of the most brilliant young candidates I have seen in any election, Helen McEntee.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I was not casting aspersions on her but on the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan.

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach has led her astray.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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She comes from a particular stock. As we spoke so eloquently of her late father, I can assure Deputy McDonald that, but for his persistence and commitment, the issue of pyrite-affected houses might never have seen the progress it has made now.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Depending on the decision of the people of Meath East tomorrow, if Ms McEntee is elected as a Government Deputy, she will, of course, be quite entitled to lobby the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of these conditions for any estate in east Meath as might apply.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Will he listen to her, though?

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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She can lobby all she likes but will he listen?

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputies, please.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is open to any Government Deputy or any other Deputy to make a case in that regard. I hope Deputy McDonald might reflect upon the aspersions she has cast upon a brilliant young candidate with a very bright future.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I was casting aspersions on the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I was contacted by a lady in recent days who told me how utterly humiliated she felt when she heard the details of the new personal insolvency service guidelines published in last weekend's press. The lady and her husband have both taken a massive drop in salary in recent years and, on foot of this, were forced to restructure their mortgage. So-called luxuries such as Sky TV, health insurance and so on are long gone for this couple. They have not had a foreign holiday since before they were married. Their second car is not a luxury but a necessity. A significant proportion of their income goes on child care.

This family, which has used up all of its personal savings and borrowed from family members, was already being kept awake at night with worry. Now, they have the added pressure of hearing rumours that one of them may be forced to give up work. This family is in arrears with its mortgage because there are some months it cannot afford to pay the full amount so it just pays as much as it can spare. These ordinary hardworking individuals are driven to distraction by the condescending attempt on the part of the Government to throw them to the wolves.

The lady asked me what next, a question I want to put to the Taoiseach. If the banks have a quarterly target of restructuring mortgages of 20,000, as has been reported, and it transpires a large proportion of the 95,000 householders in mortgage arrears have already made severe cutbacks to their family spending, what will the banks target then? Will it be the second television, mobile phone or laptop?

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The second toilet.

4:10 pm

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Will the family pet be considered one mouth too many to feed?

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Get rid of the dog.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Where will it stop? Have we reached the point where the banks that caused residential property hyper-inflation - the banks which are now handing out pensions of €100,000 to 165 personnel - are being given the green light to pillage homes?

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is over time.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Developers have said how understanding NAMA is of their plight.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, Deputy. Will you put your question, please?

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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NAMA has not asked them whether they have two cars, to take their children out of private school or whether they are going on a holiday this year. Does the Taoiseach accept that there appears to be one law for the elite and another law for the ordinary person?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is a difficult position. The Government has been at pains to set out that we want to protect home ownership where it is at all possible. The only resort should be a last resort in respect of home repossessions. This is not the situation that applies in other countries but in this country home ownership is of particular importance to people and rightly so.

Photo of Joan CollinsJoan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is why the Taoiseach spent 20 years opposing the vampire tax.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There are 100,000 mortgages in distress and we want to ensure in so far as it is possible that the vast majority of those people can have resolution brought about to their mortgage problems and are able to plan their lives accordingly and have the opportunity to contribute to their local economy and society in general. Everyone understands that this is what is required. Given the circumstances that some people have found themselves in and find themselves in, this is not an easy position to resolve.

The banks have been recapitalised extensively and it is a matter for the banks to sit down and work out individual cases because the circumstances are always different. The personal insolvency agency is derived from one of the most radical tranches of legislation brought into the House in more than a century and what is set out in terms of guidelines, which have yet to be adopted, is the whole spectrum of what might be involved.

I have answered questions about this already. What is required is a degree of common sense about the rights of people and the contribution they wish to make to deal with their particular mortgage situation. Some have said that the banks hold the whip hand on this at the end of the day but it is not true in respect of the legal recourse that any person has. Banks are now required to work out a solution by virtue of the changes made, the monitoring of the Central Bank and by their own admission in having trained personnel to sit down with individual mortgaged persons who have distress in their mortgages. If that is not possible through the insolvency agency or if it does not work out then, depending on how the practitioner makes recommendations, people have legal recourse subsequently. All the issues Deputy Halligan mentioned and all the general comments about guidelines must be adopted and considered but they in no way determine that a person would have to give up work or make a choice specifically in respect of his individual household income and how he would work out a resolution in regard to his debt.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I do not believe the full scale of the depth of the problem is evident yet. In many cases mortgages taken out in 2001 or those consolidated since that date simply cannot be paid back. Does the Taoiseach agree that the only way to the bottom of this mess is to find a mechanism that revalues the properties at the present valuation, compares the model valuation with the lending against it and then writes off the difference? Is that not reasonable? Many people have no problem with the contract they entered into with the banks and they want to keep it. They want to keep their houses and pay their mortgages. Can we not find a solution whereby the value of a property is set at what the property would be valued at today and the mortgage is brought down to that level and then enter into negotiations with the person that has taken out the mortgage at a reduced rate? The banks would be happy because they would be guaranteed some sort of payment every month.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What Deputy Halligan is suggesting sounds great but the rest of the taxpayers would have to pay for it.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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My suggestion is reasonable and pragmatic.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Let the Taoiseach answer, please.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The banks have the money.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Let us suppose we took 50,000 cases, 100,000 cases or 500,000 cases and reduced their valuations to the current valuation. Someone must pay for it. What is Deputy Halligan's suggestion?

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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It cannot be paid for anyway.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What is Deputy Halligan's suggestion? Someone must pay for it.

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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We paid them €60 billion already.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We did not.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Halligan speaks of the individual but someone must pay for the individual. That is why the changes are being made.

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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We gave the banks money. We recapitalised the banks.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is in order that there can be a process and a series of arrangements that individuals can make to work out a resolution in their particular circumstances. That is required through the bank or the lender sitting down with such people, the question of the insolvency agency and an individual's rights beyond that. Obviously, if an individual goes to the insolvency agency the professional practitioners make a determination about what is in the best interests of both the borrower and lender in such cases. Deputy Halligan has suggested writing them all down in respect of individuals, but it is the rest of the taxpayers who must pay for that and they are hard pressed as it is in a range of respects.

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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They are paying for it already.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What must apply is a degree of common sense, taking into account the full range of opportunities and arrangements that can be put in place by both borrower and lender to achieve a resolution and give the primary responsibility, in so far as it is humanly possible, to retaining home ownership for the people involved. It has been pointed out on many occasions that in this country repossession should and would only be a last resort.