Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday marked the passing of the Government's deadline for banks to reduce their mortgage rates, and the banks have almost completely ignored it. Some of them have said they have no intention of doing so. I ask that the House debate as a matter of urgency No. 32 on the Order Paper, which is the Central Bank (Emergency Powers) (Variable Interest Rates) Bill 2015, which I introduced three weeks ago.Hard pressed home owners who have carried the economy through the recession are being punished on a monthly basis by banks which they, as taxpayers, have bailed out. The banks need to be forced to act in this manner, and it is in our hands to do so. It is the Central Bank (Emergency Powers)(Variable Interest Rates) Bill, which should be at the top of the agenda taking into account what happened yesterday.

The recently published building regulations technical guidance document is very interesting. I am delighted it includes the provisions in the carbon monoxide alarm Bill. It took some time to have it included but it is now part of the building regulations technical guidance document, although I am a little concerned that it seems to recommend rather than insist in terms of that issue.

I read recently, and I am not referring to the unfortunate deaths in Baltimore in recent days, that 150 people die each year from drowning. France introduced mandatory swimming lessons for children under the age of 13, therefore, everybody leaving primary school is able to swim. That is a measure to which we should give serious consideration. It would not take very long to do it, but I believe it could be done and would be very valuable. There have been a number of deaths from drownings because people could not swim, and I am not referring to the unfortunate incident the other day.