The Government promised to introduce legislation on a mortgage guarantee scheme. That promise was contained in the Construction 2020 document. Under it, the State would guarantee 5% of the loan-value ratio of mortgages, allowing people to take out mortgages at a higher ratio. Given the Central Bank's announcement yesterday of a consultation process on people not taking out loans greater than 80% of a property's value, is the legislative proposal gone and has the rug been pulled out from under the Government or is this legislative option still live?

The issue will be considered in the context of the consultation put out by the Central Bank. Clearly, the conditions announced yesterday by the Central Bank to apply in the future are a consultation document and I have no wish to get into any row with the Governor of the Central Bank, but clearly the Government's proposals in respect of mortgages will obviously have to be considered in the light of that consultation paper. I will advise Deputy Doherty.