Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Mooney's amendment.

I support Senator Hayden's call for a debate on the issue of mortgage arrears. Repossessions are being ramped up. It is six years since the issue was first raised in the House and, as predicted, we are approaching a serious juncture where families are losing their homes. I have acted as an intermediary on behalf of people who are having difficulty with two financial institutions and despite the fact that these institutions trumpeted the potential for a full array of solutions such as mortgage to rent and so on, they have refused to give these options to people and are now moving to repossess. The reality is the code of conduct on mortgage arrears is not working and Government action on this has left the fox firmly in control of the henhouse. The fox, having showing restraint heretofore, is beginning to eat the hens and people are losing out. I seek an urgent debate on this issue.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my matter on the Adjournment.

I agree with Senator Norris that the GSOC issue is becoming a joke. The Taoiseach announced last night that there would be an inquiry and we all agree with that. The Minister for Justice and Equality then marched into the House and rubbished this statement, saying it will be just a review and then he proclaimed the result by saying there is no evidence of bugging. This is ridiculous; it is dictatorial; and it is borderline fascism.

The scenario where people are going to have a review of the documentation sounds like a Supreme Court case. The only difference, however, is that in a court case, the public sees what goes on and the documentation is reviewed. God only knows what terms of reference the Minister, Deputy Shatter, will conjure up to ensure his proclaimed result follows through and is announced in due course. If the Labour Party wants to feel it has scored a goal on this one and dragged Fine Gael kicking and screaming over the coals to have an inquiry, let it be a real inquiry.