Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The House recently dealt with the Broadcasting Bill 2008, the debate relating to which was quite detailed in nature. On the previous occasion on which I acted in the Leader's stead, I was obliged to bring the proceedings of the House to a halt at 11 p.m. as a result of the nature of the debate on that legislation. I accept the need for a wider debate on all aspects of the media and I will consider how this might be incorporated into our schedule.

Senator Keaveney also raised the cost of alcohol abuse and referred to measures being introduced in Scotland. I am aware that similar measures have been put forward in Finland which, like Ireland, has major social problems caused by the level of consumption of alcohol. If a Government representative can be found to come before the House to engage in a debate on the matter, we should invite him or her at the earliest opportunity.

Senator Norris referred to the need to re-examine the legislation relating to rent reviews. Many people would support the Senator in that regard, not only in respect of private rented accommodation but also in the context of the State continuing to pay, through the rent supplement scheme and the rental accommodation scheme, large amounts of money to landlords in respect of properties to which reduced rents apply. The State could make considerable savings in this area. A debate in the House could inform the development process relating to any new legislation in respect of this matter.

Senator O'Sullivan requested a debate on the taxi regulator, while other Members requested debates on the Financial Regulator, the energy regulator and regulation itself. I will see if it might be possible to discuss these matters in the context of a single debate.

Senator Healy Eames referred to Allied Irish Banks's write-off of bad loans. I understand that the revision of bad debts on the part of the banks came about as a result of the fact that the security they took for those loans in the first instance was based on properties that were overvalued. In addition, people could not subsequently sell those properties for sums sufficient to cover the loans in question. We are referring here to money that never really existed because people pretended that properties etc., were worth more than was actually the case. That is the reality with regard to the bad debts that are being written off.