Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

It is timely to have a serious debate on the mortgage crisis in this House, especially in light of Patrick Honohan's words in the University of Limerick, where he appears to favour repossessions, if they must take place, taking place for over-indebted buy-to-let borrowers who can no longer service their debts. Have we come to a moment in time where we must now ask what is our priority? My priority is to save the family home. No greater crisis can befall a family than their home to be taken from them. I want to see what Patrick Honohan can do to help Government policy. Will it make it easier for banks to save family homes if the buy-to-let properties are repossessed? Is that the subtext of Mr. Honohan's remarks? We must get clarification of such issues.

It is customary at this time of the year for Ministers to travel all over the world to promote our special little island, which needs the world's help. I agree a Minister should have been here yesterday but this is a special moment because every Government Minister will be promoting "The Gathering" that is to take place next year, the initiative the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is promoting to boost tourism numbers in 2013.