Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister hits the nail on head in a way. This money should not be spent indefinitely. However, such a scheme should still be in place for cases where someone is temporarily out of work. Let us suppose a person loses his job on 1 February and is out of work for three months. A payment like this could be crucial in keeping that person in his home. I agree that it should not be a long-term payment but there must be some payment to keep the wolf from the door. The simple abolition of the payment is wrong.

Let us consider the Government's record this year in terms of legislation passed in respect of homeowners.

There has been the bank veto in the Personal Insolvency Act, the reinstatement of the repossession law during the summer and third, this provision to discontinue mortgage interest supplement. This is the reality of the statutory record, the voting record and the legislative record of the Government on mortgages. It is a case of asking the banks what more can it do for them. While there is much talk about solutions, the troika is correct that not enough is being done. The Minister should reconsider this decision and some sort of provision should retained, even if it was an insurance provision for those who are working that would give them something on a temporary basis to keep that banking wolf from the door. Particularly in light of the reduced time for the moratorium, the stricter rules that favour the banks and the reinstatement of the repossession law, some provision should be retained and this relief should not be eliminated. The Minister did not respond regarding the position of those who still receive the payment between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2018. What will be the position for such people in practice?