Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. This Bill is crucial to the future of my children and future grandchildren. I regard the Minister's advice as important. People go to hospital for operations but they do not have time to think about it or to get a second opinion when it is an emergency. This is an emergency and we must deal with it. The thought of not passing this Bill tonight must be considered. The best way to explain it to the ordinary person is that if this deal goes through, as I understand it, there will be a 40 year bond.

Some 40 years ago, the average house price was £4,000 or ¤5,000. It was less in country areas. The average industrial wage was £1,500, so house prices were three or four times the average industrial wage. If I had been told in 1973 that I could buy a house and pay the £5,000 for it in 2013, 40 years later, I would have been a cute hoor to get the deal at that time. People try to tell the public that this is a bad deal for future generations but it is a good deal for future generations. I listened to my colleague from County Donegal, Deputy Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin-----