Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all accept that this is a very important initiative. It is a major concern that the Central Bank is apparently allowing the banks to dictate terms and set the parameters for the scheme. This partnership and close co-operation in the past, as we know, has yielded woeful results for the consumer and the wider public. I call on the Governor of the Central Bank and the heir apparent to Mr. Elderfield, Ms Fiona Muldoon, to show that the Central Bank is independent of the banks - which it is meant to be - and can resist their attempts to mould an initiative in a way which sets the lenders' agenda. I call on the Leader to arrange an early debate. We have asked for this debate before and I acknowledge it has been difficult to arrange. I suggest that we have this debate very early in the new term because this is a most important subject.