Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ag iarraidh cur leis an méid ata ráite ag mo chomhghleacaithe ó Shinn Féin. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He was a great colleague when he was a Member of the Seanad, during which time he was not backwards at coming forwards when it came to having a go at the banks. He always said it as he saw it and I understand why he would be supportive of this Bill.

I congratulate my comrade, Deputy Pearse Doherty, and his team who have brought forward this Bill. It is a very practical Bill containing a very practical and necessary measure. There is a time element to this issue and I hope there will not be any procrastination in the Bill being brought forward because the relationship between banks and their customers is a David and Goliath situation. The banks have so much power at their behest, including financial power, legal power and so on, that consumers can feel very helpless when it comes to tackling them on any issues relating to mortgages or other financial concerns.

I was formerly a member of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions, which met with the Financial Services Ombudsman in connection with this issue. He was frustrated by the Statute of Limitations limiting the cases into which he could look. That will be addressed by this Bill. The support from that angle is very important.

I welcome the support from all parties across the board and I hope that we will be able to quickly progress the Bill. I look forward to the support of the Minister of State in that regard. Guím gach rath ar an Aire Stáit ina chuid oibre. Beimid ag sáraíocht lena chéile go rialta as seo amach, le cunamh Dé.