Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Michael D'Arcy's request that the head of financial regulation at the Central Bank be brought before the House in order that we might discuss with him the matters to which the Senator refers. In the previous Seanad, I raised the issue of a lending institution - Friends First - which sent a group of what can only be described as thugs to deal with a young man who had purchased a truck for transporting quarry material. The individual in question signed the documentation relating to the loan he obtained - for €80,000 - in the car park of a public house. When the building trade collapsed, the man in question, through no fault of his own, lost his job. Even though he had already repaid 75% of his loan to Friends First, that company sent thugs to his parents' home. The individuals to whom I refer intimated his parents and grabbed the keys of the truck and stole it. I am aware that behaviour of this nature is being engaged in by allegedly reputable financial institutions throughout the country. In the instance to which I refer, Friends First sold the man's truck for a pittance and is still pursuing him for the balance of the moneys due. I ask the Leader to facilitate Senator Michael D'Arcy's call that the head of financial regulation at the Central Bank be asked to come before the House.