Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I welcome Senator Ó Brolcháin. I wish him many happy and successful years in national politics. I extend the same welcome to Senator James Carroll because I was not present when he joined us for the first time.

The ordinary people continue to lead the way when it comes to generosity in situations where people are in desperate need. I took part in a Newstalk debate on the amazing and outrageous story of a family with a child with special needs who lost possession of their home. It is up to us as legislators to follow the good instincts of the ordinary people, who were already phoning that radio programme at lunchtime, in which I participated, to offer assistance. We have had extraordinary legislation, and rightly so, to deal with banks in the context of NAMA. We must have equity in our system. Our courts are based on the twin pillars of common law and equity. We desperately need serious measures to rescue families in this kind of situation.