Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

Everyone is willing to stay for as long as possible to ensure that the personal insolvency Bill is passed. Both Houses have sat for longer this year and will return earlier than ever before. They will sit until nearly the end of July and return during the first week or so of September whereas the holidays used to be longer. This is welcome.

I welcome the new mortgage to rent scheme announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, yesterday. It will lift a weight from the shoulders of people who are at their wit's end, in that they will now be able to stay in their houses and rent them back from housing associations. The banks have agreed to absorb the loss, that is, the difference between the mortgage amount and the sale price paid by the housing association. Renting a house when one used to own it is not ideal, but it is better than losing or being evicted from the house. Children can stay in the same school and people can remain in the same neighbourhood, all of which is welcome.

Last Thursday, the Minister for Justice and Equality published a report on cash for gold shops, one of the first issues I raised as a Senator. The report reads: "It is arguably inconsistent that there are specific rules and regulations that apply to pawnbrokers ... and that similar appropriate and adapted rules and regulations do not apply to Cash for Gold outlets." This is a legislative inconsistency and the House should debate the report. I thank the Minister for publishing it, given the great deal of work involved.

People are scared in their houses. The number of burglaries increased by 8% between 2010 and 2011. Old people are scared about any bit of jewellery that they might have in their houses. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to discuss the report with a view to addressing this issue? The cash for gold shops are mushrooming and there are now 124. I compliment the Garda which, according to the report, visited every one of them. However, it can only do so much under the legislation. May we debate this issue with a view to changing the legislation, if necessary?