Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I agree with the speakers who have addressed the banking crisis, be it from the perspective of the Central Bank and its entertainment policy or, more pertinently, the home owners and small borrowers who are now becoming victims of the collection culture. I appreciate that where money is due or a debt is legal the banks have an entitlement to seek collection, but there must be an urgent debate and protocol to deal with the type of issues raised by Senators Wilson and Carroll. From a national perspective it is to be hoped we have the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, solution to assist the banks, but we must put in place an equivalent type of NAMA structure for home owners.

Since the passage of the NAMA legislation and the budget and after getting over some difficult political hurdles, there appears to be a false sense of security on the Government side of the House that things are getting better. Sadly, that illusion will be swept away over the next few months when interest rates will rise and more people will be faced with court orders and judgments relating to mortgage arrears. There is a need not just for a debate on the issue in this House but also for the Government to put in place something much greater than what the Green Party suggested last week. We do not seek some type of weak protocol but a structure to give real assistance to people. The House must debate this matter urgently.

Second, I support the comments of Senators Keaveney and Carroll about the current talks in Northern Ireland and, more importantly, looking towards the type of structures and engagement that must be put in place in the future. I was struck by the comments of Senator Keaveney in particular, given the political place from which she and her family come. She and all of us have matured in our views——