Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I share the concerns of Senator Brian Hayes on the Criminal Justice Bill. After all, 140 eminent barristers made their views known to the Minister yesterday. I do not suggest that these barristers are automatically right, but we should give credence to the their views and we must, as Senator Brian Hayes suggested, weigh things up properly to ensure the correct balance is struck.

We have learned that long-term credit card debt has reached a new high and half of consumers do not know the interest rates they are being charged. The Financial Regulator published proposals two years ago aimed at prohibiting credit card providers from increasing credit limits unless requested to do so by the customer. This measure has not been introduced and is crying out for redress, so I call on the Acting Leader to take up this matter with the appropriate Minister. An essential measure in the consumer protection code is the banning of such actions unless requested specifically by the customer.