Seanad debates

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Family Home Bill 2011: Second Stage

 

6:00 pm

Photo of Jim WalshJim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien for sharing his time. This Bill is analogous to the debate we held earlier in that most objective contributors recognised the failures that occurred in the church at the centre, in dioceses and in the State. If the issue of child protection is to be our priority, we have to correct the failures within that area. In this instance, however, we are dealing with failures by the Government and Opposition of the day, the regulator, the Central Bank and the Department of Finance, all of which led to the property bubble. As a consequence, a large number of people who were prudent in most of their financial dealings are now faced with the threat of losing their homes and shelter for their family. As they thereby come to rely on the State, it makes no sense for us to ignore this issue.

This Bill is the first serious attempt to address the issue and it has been worked on by Senators MacSharry and Byrne and others over a lengthy period of time. Passing it on Second Stage without division, as we often do in this House, does not prevent it being changed by a Government Bill, and amendments from all sides can be tabled on Committee Stage. In this way, the House would send out the signal that we are concerned about people with young families who are at risk of losing their homes. Some of these people have already committed suicide. Do we not feel an obligation to prevent further tragedies?

Another reason to act now is that the number of distressed mortgages and small business loans which are not in NAMA could give rise to added concerns about the solvency of our banks. It behoves nobody to allow that to continue without trying to address it.

I encourage the Seanad to show its independence by accepting the importance of this legislation and identifying defects on Committee Stage. I appeal to the Senators opposite not to send out a signal that we are abandoning people who are in genuine difficulty because of the recession and who can see no solution unless the State becomes involved.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.