Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien in calling for some action on the personal insolvency Bill and the tragedy of mortgage arrears, a silent crisis that is still continuing three years after it was first highlighted in this House and when solutions were debated. There has still been no tangible action. As the Senator stated, the latest figures show a significant increase in the number of those in mortgage arrears, yet real solutions are as elusive as ever. An unnamed source in this morning's press seemed to indicate that if one bank is forced in any way to pass on concessions to people in mortgage difficulties, it will recoup that money in charges. This would be fundamentally wrong.

It is time that we act as an Oireachtas to introduce solutions. This House has made several attempts, for example, the family home Bill and the Debt Settlement and Mortgage Resolution Office Bill 2011, which has been left on Second Stage in the Dáil. The heads of a personal insolvency Bill have been published and are before a committee, yet there seem to be no solutions for people. There are all sorts of solutions for the banks and all sorts of solutions are being passed on by the EU to Ireland as a nation state, but when will we do it for the people? They are the most important element, yet we still have had no action. There is no shortage of suggestions from both sides of the House. They are workable and could make a real difference quickly. As Senator Barrett stated, the back stairs to the Department of Finance seems very much open to bankers. This is to the detriment of struggling families. It is time that the banks were forced to use some of the money given to them to deal with people in mortgage arrears and to help people.

Will the Leader personally involve himself in the issue of the slowness of agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, and single farm payments to farming families throughout the country? Families are being given different excuses every day as to why their payments are being delayed. Today I was phoned by family members who were reduced to tears on the telephone. They were told that the money would be in their account last Thursday. They made arrangements for a bank payment in line with that plan, but nothing arrived. When I called offices to inquire on their behalf, I was told yet another story. Surely any government should aspire to providing a professional service and to being honest with people as to when the money they are owed will be paid to them.