Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

With regard to statements on the fiscal compact, our group, as agreed, submitted a list of speakers to try to ensure Members would be given additional time if there were not enough speakers, rather than being cut off after five minutes. Will the Deputy Leader check the position following the Order of Business, as it might be possible to facilitate Members in this way? The Oireachtas Library and Research Service did a very good job last week in its presentation. We have submitted the names of eight or nine speakers. Rather than stopping speakers after five minutes and having the debate finish early, we should ensure there will be a proper debate. I would appreciate it if the Deputy Leader considered this request.

Every week I raise the issue of distressed mortgages. One in seven mortgages on a principal private residence is now in arrears for over 30 days. I have asked every week since last November when the Government will publish the mortgage arrears strategy - I am actually boring myself on the issue at this stage. Prior to the budget the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, came to the House and said the strategy would be published before the budget. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, told my colleague, Deputy Michael McGrath, in the Dáil that he would have it published before Christmas. It is now the middle of March and nothing has been done. The Personal Insolvency Bill will be law by late autumn at the earliest, which is not sufficient. The Deputy Leader will say we have discussed the issue in committee, which is all well and good, and I appreciate work has to be done. However, the Bill does not go far enough because it leaves the final say with the banks. We have published our own Bills and the one which would have protected the family home was defeated by the Government by three votes. Another, at Second Stage in the Dáil, proposes the setting up a debt settlement office and taking power from the banks to make the decisions on what is appropriate for a mortgagee. Time is passing. As every week passes, more and more people are getting into difficulty with their mortgage. As for passing on the ECB rate cut of more than two months ago, I note the Government strong-armed AIB, which has the lowest rate in the market, to pass it on but Bank of Ireland got away with passing on 0.14% of a combined rate reduction of 0.5%. The Government is doing nothing for people in mortgage arrears and this matter is far too serious. I seek a cast-iron commitment this morning that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, will come into this House next week to discuss this issue. Unless such a commitment is forthcoming, Fianna Fáil will oppose the Order of Business every day until I find out on behalf of those outside this Chamber what the Government intends to do for those who are losing their homes.

I will conclude by referring to a case reported in yesterday's edition of The Irish Times. The courts, in respect of €50,000 of arrears owed by a man who had a stroke and who could not work since 2008, granted a repossession order on a principal private residence. The Government is sitting by and doing nothing.