Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We do not need the banks telling us what to prioritise. We all know that the family home is sacrosanct. However, it is unwise for banks to now have the authority to set limits on the amount of money that we should spend on food and on health cover. Of course banks can give us guidelines and recommendations but we must watch where power lies. Let us not forget that a short time ago it was these same banks that all of the citizens of the State, which includes the homeowners who are now in trouble, had to bail out.

I want the Minister for Justice and Equality to come here to hear the reality of how the mortgage arrears situation works. I have put it on the record of the House and said to the Minister for Social Protection that they have directed people to travel to the North of Ireland to get dental care. They have also told families of five that ¤200 per week is too much to spend on food. We must examine priorities. People must eat.