Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the publication yesterday of the expert report. I differ from my colleague on the Opposition side of the House. As Members will know, the prevention of family home repossession group which I established with others had a number of recommendations. I am pleased to say some of them are included in the report released yesterday. It is important to say it is an interim report and the final report is due in September. Our core objectives remain the same in terms of looking for legislative reform of the Enforcement of Court Orders Act to give cognisance and protection to people with family homes.

There are many good things in the report. I hope the work of the Hugh Cooney group will continue to bring forward more meaningful proposals. I and other Members would like it to go a little further but it is not fair of the Irish Independent to ignore recommendations on so many issues when the House pioneered the recommendations in this regard. I see it has sensationalised media reports today. It is worth noting the Irish Examiner states "Resolution offers hope for struggling mortgage holders", The Irish Times states "Government moves to aid homeowners in mortgage arrears", yet the Irish Independent, the newspaper whose owner pontificates on so-called viewspapers rather than news and the provision of the facts to the public, is scaremongering people with headlines like "hand back homes".

If one reads the report one will find it is a very real option for people which needs to be included as some people wish to do that. Other protections are included, which I welcome. I want to ensure they are implemented quickly and built upon. The report released yesterday is very positive. This House and other Senators can take credit for much of what is in it. We should ensure the measures are implemented quickly and are built upon with the final report to be issued later.

I share with others the great concern regarding the accuracy of the information provided by some of the banks to NAMA. It is a disgrace. We should have a debate on it in the House. I am glad to hear the Minister, Deputy Lenihan, this morning moved to tell the public that if inaccuracies have been knowingly provided by banks in terms of misleading information, then criminal prosecutions will be faced. I hope that will be the case.

In the absence of my colleague, Senator O'Donovan, I welcome the delegation of ladies from west Cork who are in the Gallery.