Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I express a huge "thank you" to Senator David Norris for spearheading the Bill. It shows once again his humanitarian and caring nature and activist role. I also recognise the work done by Deputy John McGuinness who is in the Visitors Gallery. I thank all of the housing and citizens' groups which have supported Senator David Norris in his wish to bring forward the Bill.

This is a housing issue. Everyone present probably has experience of family members being harassed by the banks in the past few years; therefore, they know how people's confidence can be destroyed. People have received telephone calls from banks on a daily basis. Pressure has been put on individuals, families and their children. The distress caused has been shocking, atrocious and totally unacceptable. The Bill will go some way towards addressing the problem.

In the past year the Civil Engagement group, of which I am part, has focused heavily on the housing crisis. Last year I introduced the Vacant and Derelict Sites Bill as a means of tackling the ever expanding housing waiting lists. The aim of the Bill before the House is to prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place. It should, therefore, be well supported and commended. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, I have advocated for much stronger action by the Government to end homelessness and tackle the catastrophic rise in rents, particularly in the Dublin region. Since the beginning the Civil Engagement group has focused on adopting a social approach to housing. We view it not as an investment but as a right. We want to see strong action being taken by the State and locally to deal with the issue. An important part of our approach is the principle contained in the Bill to protect those who are already in homes. The new Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has admitted that the Government will not meet its target to house Ireland's homeless and get them out of hotels and other emergency care settings. The former Minister had ambitious targets and it is sad that they have not been met. I hope the Bill will go some way to protecting those who are slipping into homelessness. Prevention is better than cure. Society would be much better served if we were to find a way to help people to stay in their homes rather than try to assist them after they have lost them.

On the insolvency laws and vulture funds, the Bill aims to give a fresh start to borrowers, to allow mortgagees or borrowers to buy their mortgage debt from the banks and create a new co-operative society that will rely on the European Investment Bank in providing the funding required to buy secured loans from lenders. The Green Party supports the principles behind the Bill. Certain points need to be teased out and I hope that will happen in the coming weeks. I agree, in particular, with the aim of the Bill to deal with the issue of insolvency and tackle the parasitic vulture funds in Ireland. The housing crisis is being seen purely as a financial issue, but that mindset must be turned around. The Bill should be about providing support which I believe is the approach proposed by Senator David Norris. My party wholeheartedly supports the Bill on this Stage. I look forward to making further inputs as it passes through the different Stages.