Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with previous speakers in regard to the need for an inquiry into the banking sector. Recently, we saw how inexpensive an inquiry can be. The inquiry by the former Senator McAleese cost in the region of ¤11,000, which is a tiny amount compared with what some inquiries over the past number of years cost. In many cases, young people are in negative equity in respect of their houses and the banks are completely unable to think outside the box. We now see that there was no expertise in the banks during the boom. All they did was hand out money - in many cases, far too much money which people could not afford to borrow. To a large extent, that led to the crisis. Individual borrowers should not be treated in the way they are being treated by the banks. Will the Deputy Leader try to convene a debate on the issue as soon as possible so that we might be able to come up a plan in this regard?