Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in wishing Tom McGrath a long, happy and healthy retirement. I thank him for his outstanding service to this House over the years.

As a Galwegian, I want to join those who have congratulated the new Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh. I know there is great excitement about his election in Connemara, which is where his parents emigrated from in the 1950s. I know the people of Connemara will be celebrating over the next few days.

I support the call by Senator Healy Eames for a discussion on money lending. Figures published by the Central Bank show that there has been a 20% increase in this activity since 2007 and that 360,000 people have taken out loans from registered and licensed money lenders. No figures are available with regard to illegal money lending, which is the most worrying aspect of this issue. Illegal money lenders prey on vulnerable people. I would like this matter to be discussed in the House. The reports in this morning's newspapers in this regard are certainly worrying.