Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

Many Members of the House, including the Leas-Chathaoirleach, attended the western rail corridor conference in Castlebar on Friday, 13 May. The report received a very positive response from two Ministers. The issue concerns the national spatial strategy and regional interconnections which has relevance for the south east and the west. It also addresses issues such as depopulation, as do the planning guidelines.

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, launched on 16 May a report presented by the One Parent Exchange and Network, OPEN, organisation about the financial difficulties facing one-parent families. This matter would be well worth debating. The Minister has already shared some of his thoughts with this House on related topics. He has said he will speak with the banks about their refusal to deal with such people, throwing them back to moneylenders. We have a system whereby the European Central Bank sets base rates for interest rates. We should consider putting a ceiling on interest rates so that punitive 100% or 200% rates charged by financial institutions to vulnerable people would not only be illegal but those who demand them would go to jail——