Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to intervene in the current difficulties that have arisen with the teachers' unions. I am not asking her to cave in, and I welcome the fact that she has amended the proposals of the previous Minister, Deputy Quinn. However, I ask her to meet with the teachers' unions as a matter of urgency to avert the threat of a strike. I agree with Senator Craughwell in that regard.

I also join Senator Craughwell in seeking a debate on banking. I am aware the banking inquiry is currently under way, but it is important that this House has an urgent debate on banking. A number of areas must be discussed, including the rate of interest mortgage holders must pay. At a time when the European Central Bank, ECB, rate is at an all-time low of almost 0%, the banks in this country are charging mortgage holders well in excess of 4%. That must be addressed. We must also examine how the banks are dealing with mortgage arrears, receiverships and the sale of properties which they have put into receivership. There are serious questions in this regard and I ask the Leader to arrange that urgent debate.

Finally, it is very serious if the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has made a threat to abolish a democratically elected council without good reason.