Pat Casey (Fianna Fail)

Yes. On her income, she could not get a mortgage higher than 65%. Her mother was helping her out and she was getting the first home scheme as well, but she could not get the help-to-buy scheme. Again, she could not get it across the line. They are two examples.

I am not talking about the deadweight in this scheme, which we all know about. There is a genuine need to have a review of the 70% threshold for people who are taking on additional debt. We call it equity, not debt, but it is debt because that equity has to be paid back. If the first home scheme and help-to-buy scheme were combined, the rate would be much higher than 70%. I would like the Minister of State to look at that.

The second issue, which is easier, relates to the fresh start principle. I can also give examples of this. It does not happen very often but some people - widows and widowers - are ruled out of the fresh start principle. These are people who lose their house because they have lost their husband or wife and do not have the correct insurance or whatever else in place and have to sell the family home. They are no different from people who have separated, divorced or become insolvent. I do not think it is the intention of the law to rule them out, but because they were not put into it in the first place, they are currently ruled out.We are not talking about a huge cohort of people in that regard. There are not many people who look for a new home when they lose a husband or wife. It is a very small, insignificant percentage of people but we should not rule them out.

I will not get into the issue of the hospitality industry with Senator McDowell, but I could provide a lot more reasons why the pubs are only open in the evening time, other than a shortage of staff. We will do that another day.