Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Emergency legislation was brought before the House last night but I was pleased to hear the Minister, Deputy Noonan, clarify that the drafting of the legislation was not an emergency measure; it had been in place for months. We can take solace from the fact that much thought had gone into it and that the measures around it were secure.

Senator Marc MacSharry has said we have to see how all of this is affecting people in their homes.

It has come to me attention in the past week that the mortgage arrears resolution process is not working. That is the code all of the banks here, including Ulster Bank which is not one of the pillar banks, have signed up to. How can we help the home owner? I have been informed in the past week that a relationship manager for a bank worked with a customer, agreed that there should be forbearance, verified the expenditure and accepted proof ofbona fidesbut when the file went to head office the application was completely rejected. This is a family that is doing its best to pay the mortgage and has not yet gone into arrears, but it is flagging that it is about to happen. However, when it seeks forbearance, it is refused, despite the fact that it forms part of the mortgage arrears resolution process code, to which all banks have signed up. What is the point of the process, given that when proof is provided, it is rejected by head office. We have got to do something about the issue. I ask the Leader to invite the appropriate Minister to the House, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, or another Minister, for a debate on the issue. The banks must be made to live up to the code when proof is provided that a family is about to go into arrears and asking for help for one year.