Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am committed, as is Senator Craughwell, to ensuring that we find truth. It will not bring young Aidan McAnespie back, but obtaining justice will give his family some solace. I join with Senator Ó Donnghaile in saying that the issue of equality is important for the North, and particularly the issue of marriage equality.

Senators Butler and Norris raised the issue of Permanent TSB and Ulster Bank, and we had two debates in the House last week on the issue; it was in the Order of Business twice and the Minister was in the House last Thursday. The Minister is committed to working with all sides to ensure that we find a way forward so that we can have certainty for families, homeowners and landowners in the case of the use of the non-performing loan book. It is also important to recognise there are many people who are paying their mortgages, struggling to pay and working through their issues with the banks. The State should work with those people as well and they should not be forgotten in this debate. The issue is being taken seriously. The Minister has met Deputy Michael McGrath and there is a willingness to work to ensure that we do find a way forward. The Minister has asked the Central Bank to look at the situation.