Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I want to bring the focus back to the trouble which many ordinary citizens are experiencing, that is, indebtedness. We are almost reaching crisis levels with regard to personal debt, be it credit cards or credit in general, and mortgage debt - in many cases people are in negative equity. Small businesses are also suffering serious problems with regard to cashflow and overdrafts, which are not being secured from banking institutions. Our State debt is one of the biggest concerns of all. We need to have a debate on the issue of indebtedness.

I do not expect the State to pay back debts but we should examine all types of mechanisms and assistance for our citizens. We should even consider the very basic assistance offered through MABS offices around the country which are overburdened with people seeking help. Resources such as that would assist people. We should discuss how our banking system is responding to the crisis and the mechanisms it is using. I ask the Leader to make provision for a debate on indebtedness in this country, the sooner the better.

One of the knock-on effects of the crisis is the impact it has on social welfare offices around the country. People who have no incomes, having lost their jobs, urgently need assistance but must wait months to meet social welfare officers and receive a response from them. That is totally unacceptable. Staff in the Department of Social Protection are overburdened with work and crying out for resources, but owing to the embargo they are not getting them. The Government must look at its priorities in terms of how it is responding to the crisis and provide resources where they are so badly needed, namely, on the front line, to assist families which are seriously stressed. In the past week alone I dealt with five queries, in respect of which, unfortunately, one man died by suicide, two more people attempted to commit suicide, while one person is threatening to do so. This saddens me as a public representative. As politicians, we need to engage and provide resources where they are needed, namely, on the front line, because people face a crisis and need our help.