Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister noted in his contribution, the Garda has widespread powers to deal with this issue. If this is the case, why is the Garda not dealing with the problem? These are the questions that must be answered by the Minister on foot of the introduction of this Bill. The most vulnerable people are being affected by these gangsters and thugs. While the latter are the unlicensed operators, I also would include the licensed moneylenders in this regard. I challenge the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator to check up on the licensed operators because I believe they are breaking the law and using heavy-handed bully-boy tactics to try to extract exorbitant interest rates from their vulnerable clients. While Members have suggested people should go to MABS, these people are at their wits' end. They are maxed out with the credit union, which is the only financial institution to which they have recourse. They have no other option but to seek to get money to pay for Christmas, holy communions, confirmations, school uniforms and in some cases, to pay to put food on the table. They must do this to supplement the social welfare payments they are receiving but which are going to pay moneylenders.

As colleagues have outlined earlier, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul does excellent work but it does not have sufficient resources to cope with the difficulties such people face. I agree with Senator Moloney's observations with regard to the pressure under which she was put by a reputable business for €14. However, with respect, I suggest the rasping she was put under is nothing compared with what these people are going through.