Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, I attended the official opening by the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, of a refurbished convent national school in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. During his excellent address to the guests who were invited to attend, he pointed out the advantages of adult and further education to the communities in which these centres were located. I call on the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate on the importance of adult and further education, in particular Youthreach, the back to education initiative, BTEI and the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, which are important aspects of the adult and further education area and which should be addressed as part of the debate.

I join my colleague, Senator MacSharry, in calling on the Minister for Finance or the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to come to the House to update Members on what I understand is an application by the banks and financial institutions to change the protocol that has been in existence for a short period which allows them to contact people in arrears up to three times per month but no more than that. The number of times they can be contacted should not be increased because, as a result of the credit culture that existed in this country, many people fell into the trap of taking the money being offered to them by these financial institutions. Currently, people are being contacted by banks, credit unions, car hire purchase companies and other financial institutions three times per month, which means a person could be contacted 12 or 14 times per month. It is worth bearing in mind that in regard to that contact three times per month, it means the person contacting can physically speak to the individual three times per month. It does not take into account that they could be leaving messages for the person three times a day, writing to them three times a week or e-mailing them ten times a day. That must be taken into consideration. People are being persecuted-----