Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I join Senator Mary Moran in calling on the Leader to request the facilitation of a debate on the scourge of suicide in Ireland and especially among young people. It now appears that financial pressures are seriously impacting on the health of many people here. The auctions at the weekend of repossessed properties are having a serious affect. I call on the banks to show more compassion and flexibility in dealing with home owners who are in mortgage arrears in view of the contribution that those same banks made to the awful situation in which people find themselves. It is galling to think that any financial institution would consider paying one of its executives a salary of more than €500,000 per year. We all bemoan the fact that none of those bankers who, clearly, has broken the law has yet been brought to book. I hope the day is not far off when some of those people pay for the crimes they have committed against the people and that some who are overseas are extradited and brought back to face the full rigours of the law.