Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that the first case has been concluded through the Insolvency Service of Ireland, resulting in the write-down of 70% of the debts of the individuals concerned. Given that one petitioner has submitted 20 cases, if the Leader is agreeable we should have a debate early in the new year on the progress made by the Insolvency Service of Ireland in dealing with distressed mortgages. There is a particular difficulty in resolving mortgage arrears where a couple is in a marital breakdown situation. To deal with that there will be a need for a change in the law, and we need a review of that.

I was recently at a meeting at which Traveller accommodation in the Dublin City Council area was discussed and I was disturbed to discover that a number of Traveller families were living in approved Traveller accommodation which lacked basic facilities such as electricity and water. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister with responsibility for housing, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, here to discuss the national strategy on Traveller accommodation. We cannot stand over a situation, in spite of our economic difficulties, in which any family in this country has no access to basic facilities such as running water and electricity.