Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We must ensure the review of GSOC, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, is thorough for the confidence of the nation, not just a window-dressing exercise to play down the seriousness of what is at stake. When we see the terms of reference, we will know how serious it is being taken. When will we know the terms of reference?

I put down an Adjournment matter on the 13,000 Irish Nationwide home loans at risk of being sold to foreign bidders by IBRC. Will the Minister for Finance insist on the protection of Irish law and practice for the home owners affected? Senator MacSharry spoke about the code of conduct for mortgage arrears not being adequate. If those 13,000 home loans are sold to foreign bidders, they will not even have the protection of the code. They will be at risk of an increase surcharge on their interest payments and lose the protection of eight months for repossessions. They will be thrown to the wolves. Next up the line, it looks like Ulster Bank is prepared to sell off our mortgages. Where is the protection? The market might be ready for a sell-off by the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. While that might be good for the country’s bottom line, we cannot sell out home owners’ rights. Many of them are not in arrears. At a minimum, we must ensure those Irish home owners’ loans that might be sold to a foreign bidder have the protection of Irish law and practice.