Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To follow up on a couple of points from last week, has there been any progress in the issue of the vacancy in Temple Street Children's University Hospital? The paediatric physiotherapist post remains vacant and the hospital is awaiting sanction for the replacement of the post. I remind the House that approximately 94 children with cystic fibrosis are using those services in the hospital. Nobody would disagree that the delay in filling the vacancy is unacceptable and I will be raising the matter with the Minister for Health today. Has the Leader had an opportunity to raise the issue?

We urgently need a debate - next week, if possible - on the household charge and the effect it is having with cuts to local authority funding. In particular, there was a promise from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government that should a local authority attain 66% of collection, the third quarter cut imposed on local authorities would be refunded. I use the example of Clare County Council, which had ¤250,000 cut from its budget despite attaining 67% collection. As the council has been informed that the money will not be refunded, that is a broken promise.

I have heard Members of this House on the Government side going on local radio in Clare, giving out yards about how they are appalled at this and they will speak with the Minister. They said this was a promise and it was awful that it was being broken. I would like some clarification on the issue. The Minister made the promise and local authorities are doing their best to collect these funds. They were told there would be a rebate of the third quarter cut if a certain level of collections was attained but the Minister has rowed back by indicating this will not happen. Senator Conway was very exercised on Clare FM during the week about this. It might be an idea to bring the Minister into the Chamber to let Senator Conway and others ask the Minister specific questions as they may not have had a chance to meet him.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that non-Government motion No. 9 be taken before No. 1. I raised the issue of mortgage arrears yesterday and on many occasions, and I have tabled what I see as a non-partisan motion, "That Seanad Éireann condemns the recently announced variable mortgage interest rate of 0.5% being imposed on mortgage holders by Bank of Ireland and ICS Building Society; and calls on the Government to take all necessary steps to reverse this unacceptable increase". We have an opportunity this morning for Members of the Seanad to speak as one, laying down a marker to Bank of Ireland. We should not forget that although we only own 15% of the bank, we guarantee the bank and ICS, including its deposits and liabilities.

There are now thousands of people who will, from 24 October, face substantial mortgage increases, as the rate is 4.49%. All of us across parties and those in none can surely agree that this rate increase is not right. There has been much discussion about what will happen but there is an opportunity for the Seanad Members to speak as one. We should allow the Minister, Deputy Noonan, come to the House by accepting this motion. I am sure he and the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, are very concerned about the rate increase. I mentioned yesterday that figures for mortgage arrears are up 50% since June last year.

The crisis is getting worse. That two institutions guaranteed by the Irish taxpayer can arbitrarily increase the rate to 4.490% when the base ECB lending rate is 0.75% is a scandal. I ask all colleagues to look at this motion. I am not trying to beat up the Government on this.