Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I know people are anxious to leave but this is a very important discussion. We may be having discussions about the role and the future of the Seanad but that is the last thing on the mind of anyone on the point of losing his or her home. The Government has a serious responsibility to devise practical solutions to this problem. I acknowledge that important steps have been taken. For example, I welcome the Minister of State's indication that there are proposals to assign greater powers to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS. That service is doing good work, but its staff are snowed under.

I commend the Members opposite on their noble effort in bringing forward this legislation. We look forward to working with them in devising constitutionally and legally sound legislation that will address these issues.