Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As many Members, including Senators Boyhan and Mark Daly, raised the issue of Brexit, I will come to that issue last. I will first address the other issues briefly.

Senator Higgins raised the issue of volunteers and articulated the point very well. I agree with her comments. It is an issue on which Members could easily have a debate in this House in the new year. Senator Butler raised the issue of the mortgage restructuring Bill 2017. It sounds like very sensible legislation. He suggested that we discuss it with the Minister for Finance in this House but I would be keen to see it before the Seanad as legislation sooner rather than later. Obviously, as Deputy Durkan has created the legislation, it will need to go to the Dáil first but we would be very happy to take that Bill, together with other legislation, into this House in the near future. Senator Murnane O'Connor raised an issue around water refund cheques. She has raised a wider issue, however, because there are money laundering concerns to consider there.The Department has to be able to issue cheques because it is not feasible for it to do anything other than that. It would be a logistical nightmare for it to try to find a way to give people cash. The day of cashing cheques, thankfully, is in the past. I find it hard to believe that people do not have bank accounts.