Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

I enjoin the comments of previous speakers. The figures in respect of elder abuse are astonishing. There were 2,302 allegations of abuse made to the HSE last year according to the figures published today. As other speakers have noted, this represents a 9% increase. God only knows how many cases have occurred which have gone unreported, which is usually the case with these statistics. This is one frightening aspect of the figures.

Alleged perpetrators of abuse tend to be related to the abused and this makes it all the more easy for it to be concealed. Some 44% of all cases reported were sons or daughters, and a further 18% were partners. This makes it difficult for the abused person to report. We need to work to remove the stigma that older people may feel in reporting these serous matters. I agree with Senator Hayden. Not only do we need a fully funded Childline service in the country but something similar for older people, especially given the economic environment in which we are living today. It may not seem like a substantial expense to make a telephone call but it should be made as easy as possible for people to report these hideous happenings.

I enjoin other speakers in calling for the Minister for Finance to come to the House to discuss the plan of action to deal with the potential lost generation in the country with mortgages, the whole mortgage area, those with mortgage arrears and those in negative equity. Everyone is discussing it. There are many ideas but we must hear exactly what the Government, as our stakeholder in the banks, will tell them about what needs to be done with mortgage arrears and the effects this is having on our citizens. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister of Finance to come to the House as a matter of urgency.