Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I respectfully disagree with Senator Bacik that there is no evidence to support the contention that those who have had an abortion do not experience emotional and mental effects in the long term. Certainly abortion may appear like a solution in the short term. This depends on who one speaks to and the group that carried out the research. Not everyone holds the view that it has no effects.

Senator MacSharry and I have been looking for solutions for home owners for a number of years. I welcome the proposal for split mortgages, whereby couples, families and individuals will be re-examined to see what percentage of the mortgage they can afford to pay back and the part of the mortgage they cannot afford will be parked. The fact that interest will be applied to the portion of the mortgage that is parked is a source of controversy. However, I support that notion that simple interest of considerably less than 1% would be apportioned to the parked portion of the mortgage so it is considered a performing loan on the banks' books. Some people expected that no interest would be applied to the parked portion of the mortgage, but it must be less than 1% and charged at simple interest. This is a great solution for families who are worried about keeping their homes. It will bring dignity to such families. I ask the Leader to allow for a debate on this topic once the Bill is published tomorrow and certainly before the summer recess? This bill needs to be thrashed out so that people are clear about it.

Senator MacSharry also raised the question of the mortgage interest supplement. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, made clear during the debate on social welfare that after 12 months a family would qualify to apply for a mortgage interest supplement payment.