The Tánaiste will be aware that figures released this week show that the number of people accessing the services of moneylenders has increased since 2007 by 20%.

There are approximately 360,000 people in the State who access either legal or illegal moneylenders. The Tánaiste will also recall that my colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, brought forward a Private Members' Bill to try to cap the interest rates being charged by legal moneylenders. During the debate there was a general consensus on all sides of the House - although the Bill was voted down - that we needed to return to the issue in order to tackle high interest rates. Does the Government plan to publish legislation to tackle the issue of high interest being charged by legal moneylenders?

We do not have legislation on the list for the issue but I agree with Deputy O'Brien in that this is a serious issue. The matter of people finding themselves in trouble with moneylenders requires attention but the area might be usefully addressed by the Oireachtas committee dealing with finance. It could make recommendations for consideration by the Government.