Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I am concerned, as every Member of the House should be, about the report of the Financial Services Ombudsman, Mr. Joe Meade. He says financial institutions have "preyed on the elderly". Elderly people have been focused upon by financial institutions with regard to investment in bonds, windfalls from the sale of property and retirement lump sums. This report is a further blow to the reputation of our banking institutions. Some 63% of complaints made to the Financial Services Ombudsman have been upheld. That is an indictment of our financial system and needs the full attention of the Government. I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the Government and the Minister for Finance and ask them to ensure that this type of preying on people in vulnerable situations does not continue. It does not do us, our economy or our reputation any good.

There is huge concern throughout rural Ireland at the discontinuation of the rural environmental protection scheme, REPS. The scheme is worth approximately €6,000 per farmer and contributes to the real viability of farms. Other countries are protecting the scheme and ensuring that the environment is protected and has the support of the State whereas we are discontinuing it. Meanwhile, we are talking about the need to get support for the Lisbon treaty. This will have a huge negative effect, not only on farmers but on agricultural stores, farmers' suppliers, contractors and agri-advisers. It will have a huge effect on rural employment in general.