Some 70,000 variable rate customers of AIB face another mortgage hike of 0.5% on top of a previous rate rise of 0.5%. There is a paragraph in the programme for Government directing any mortgage provider in receipt of State support to present Government with a plan of how it intends to cut its costs, over and above the existing plans and in fair manner, by a sufficient amount to forego a 25 basis point increase on the variable rate.

Deputy, this is the Order of Business, we have finished Leaders' Questions.

This is in the programme for Government. Is there any impending legislation regarding this commitment in the programme because mortgage holders are in distress and more of them are falling into distress on a continuing basis? Is there legislation in place to bring about this commitment?

Yes. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter has introduced legislation. It has passed Second Stage and is at Committee Stage. It will deal with the personal insolvency service to provide for people who are struggling with their mortgages. I share the Deputy's concern about mortgages. Some 70,000 mortgage holders will be affected by this increase that was announced by AIB today.