Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

We had an excellent debate yesterday on an all-party motion tabled by Senators O'Toole and Norris on head shops. I compliment and thank everyone who contributed to that debate, which is a roll-over initiative. Will the Leader say when it is intended to resume this important debate? Perhaps he might be able to tell the House at the end of the Order of Business.

I join Senators McCarthy, Ross and others in calling for a debate on our financial institutions, not on how we have got to where we are but about how we are dealing with where we are. I ask the Leader, specifically, for a debate on the way financial institutions are dealing with people such as those mentioned by Senator McCarthy who were given money without being stress tested. I am referring to financial institutions not covered by the Government's recapitalisation scheme which include companies which give people credit cards, car loans etc. They are now ringing people at home and at work, not on a daily but on an hourly basis and they are e-mailing and writing to people on a weekly basis.

Even worse, if they ring somebody at work, which they do up to seven times a day, they identify who they are when asking for the person concerned. This is unacceptable and it should be highlighted here on a daily basis. I ask the Leader for a debate specifically in relation to financial institutions and the manner in which they go about collecting arrears. These moneys are quite rightly due to them, but I should like a debate specifically to address the manner in which they try to recoup their loans from people who have fallen into arrears through no fault of their own.