Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

They are all linked.

The personal insolvency Bill was mentioned by our leader, Senator O'Brien, who spoke about the delays in publishing the Bill and bringing it before the Oireachtas. There are about 90,000 people in mortgage arrears, as we know, and the banks are putting excruciating pressure on some of those people. They are calling them at all hours, and they are not adhering to the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. The Government needs to stop dilly-dallying with this Bill. A Cabinet sub-committee was established - the Taoiseach referred to it in the Dáil yesterday - but it seems to be dilly-dallying with this urgently needed legislation. I propose to the Leader that the House sit through the month of August if needs be to debate the Bill. Every day the Bill is delayed the 90,000 people to whom we referred and their families face the prospect of telephone calls from banks on mortgage arrears. Some houses are being taken over by the banks, some of which are rented to the individuals living therein. This is happening at the same time that the Government is, apparently, delaying the legislation.

I agree totally with Senator Darragh O'Brien that we need a debate on this issue today to clear the way for our discussion of the legislation and play our part in informing its drafting. I am not even sure it is being drafted because it appears from what the Taoiseach said yesterday that the Cabinet sub-committee has not even finalised its recommendations. This morning a Minister stated the legislation would be published shortly. There are, therefore, conflicting reports on it. We have not seen any action and have heard empty promises. It is time the Government lived up to its pre-election promises in this regard.