Sinn Féin also seeks an emergency debate on this and other HIQA reports, which I have raised here, and on a letter from HIQA which made it clear that most of its recommendations had not been acted on and that patient safety was, therefore, at risk. I will return to the issue later.

Now, I will deal with the refusal by the Irish banks to cut variable mortgage rates for struggling householders and to pass on the European Central Bank's reduction in interest rates. On 30 April, the Taoiseach said it was unacceptable, and he has voiced similar sentiments for years. However, yesterday, in a report to the Department of Finance, the Central Bank said it does not want powers to compel Irish banks to reduce variable mortgage interest rates. The 300,000 mortgage holders will have received the news with utter dismay. They know, and the Taoiseach knows, and we should be very clear about what is happening. Although the ECB reduced its variable interest rates, the Irish banks have refused to pass the reduction on to households but are pocketing the money. Irish mortgage holders are being ripped off by the banks while the Central Bank is refusing to protect them.

Over the past four years, Sinn Féin has been calling on the Taoiseach to take action on this. The Taoiseach must take the opportunity to state very clearly and robustly that he rejects the Central Bank's recommendations. He must make it very clear that he will ensure the Central Bank takes on these new powers. Will the Taoiseach assert clearly that he will ensure that mortgage holders who have been denied the benefit of the ECB reductions will, finally, be afforded some relief?

I have made it perfectly clear for quite some time that the Government is unhappy and finds it unacceptable that lending banks have not passed on the reduction in rates at which that they borrow to variable rate mortgage holders. The Minister for Finance has made it clear on many occasions that were the Central Bank to request him for legislative authority to deal with interest rates, he would so legislate. Deputy Gerry Adams is aware that neither the Central Bank nor the Government dictates what variable interest rates should be. The Minister is returning from Brussels today from a Eurogroup meeting. The Deputy seems to be quoting from the report in question which I have not received yet. It has been received in the Department of Finance and I expect the Minister will have an opportunity to go through it this evening. Obviously, he has made his intention clear of engaging with the banks, following receipt of the report, on variable mortgage interest rates. Everyone knows that variable rate mortgage holders have struggled and are struggling in a very unfair position where the banks have not passed on rates that were reduced for themselves. I suggest to the Deputy that it would be only appropriate for the Minister to assess and analyse the report which he asked the Central Bank to provide for him. We will have an opportunity to discuss the report here in due course. It is for the Minister to make recommendations to the Government on what is the appropriate and best thing to do, taking into account that the Government has made it clear that we do not find it fair or acceptable that this situation is continuing.

I have not read the report. I am surprised, however, that the Taoiseach has not read it. Where I obtained this information was where most of us on these benches receive it, like those on the backbenches opposite, namely, through the media.

From An Phoblacht.

I am surprised and disappointed that the Taoiseach has not had the time to read the recommendations of the Central Bank in this regard. He says he is unhappy. That has been a consistent theme. He said it was unacceptable and not fair. However, he is not a commentator or spectator. Hand-wringing by him or the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, has not worked. Polite conversation has also not worked. As the Minister might put it, some of the bank chief executive officers are allergic to fairness.

The Taoiseach needs to take firm and decisive action. He knows what the problem is. The State owns most of the banks. Accordingly, what is required is necessary insolvency legislation to support struggling home owners and provide legal protection for the family home. Citizens have been waiting for some time for the Government to introduce some proposals to deal with this crisis. The stress and the anxiety visited on these families are very real. Compare this with the Taoiseach’s willingness to have all-night sittings and develop, under a Labour Party Minister, unprecedented new legislation which will allow the Government to pickpocket people’s pensions, welfare benefits and salaries to pay its water taxes. On the one hand, there is no problem with it bringing forward all of these measures when it comes to ordinary folks. However, when it comes to the banks, the Taoiseach waffles, engages in rhetoric and does not act.

A question, please, Deputy.

The question is quite simple. The Taoiseach is here to protect taxpayers and householders, to stand up for them and stand up to the banks. When will he introduce specific measures to end the bank veto in personal insolvency arrangements, as well as reducing variable interest rates to ensure interest rates set by the European Central Bank are not pocketed by the banks but are passed on to the people who own them?

Paddy wants to know.

The report was commissioned by the Minister of Finance and to be provided for him by the Central Bank. The report was received yesterday evening in the Department of Finance. The Minister is in Brussels and returning today. He will be the first person to read the report, at his request. It was not delivered to everybody else, if that is Deputy Gerry Adams’s insinuation. The Minister is entitled to receive the report, read and assess it and bring his recommendations to the Government. The Deputy claims I have been unhappy for some time about this matter. I am also unhappy about the issue of promissory notes, €3 billion being borrowed every year to pay interest for Anglo Irish Bank, the extent of the deficit, the unemployment rate and the situation of those in mortgage distress. Yes, we are here to protect the taxpayer.

Paddy is still not happy.

The central mandate given to the Government was to fix the public finances and put the country back to work. I am happy to report that we will exceed the target we set ourselves of having 100,000 new jobs created by the end of 2016.

What about the question I asked?

I will come to it. I was unhappy about the 15.2% unemployment rate. I am still unhappy that it is at 10%, but at least it is heading in the right direction.

The right direction seems to be Australia and Canada.

What about the kangaroos?

Clearly, the public finances are now in much better shape than when Deputy Gerry Adams was crowing that the European Union could go stuff itself and the other language he used.

Like the Greeks.

We have had a continuous debate about Irish Water. The Government listened carefully to people’s concerns. The charge is now €1.50 per week for a person living on his or her own and €3 a week for a household of two or more persons.

Did the Taoiseach fix the leaks yet?

It is grossly unfair that in respect of the contribution requested by the Government for Irish Water-----

The Taoiseach called it a compliance regime.

Deputy Adams all about compliance regimes. What about the kangaroos?

It is grossly unfair that some people who can well afford to pay decide not to pay, while other taxpayers, over 1 million of them, will pay and contribute to the well-being of our society and the country.

What does this have to do with variable rate mortgage holders?

The Taoiseach should not start. What about people who cannot pay?

A number of issues about water and inadequate water facilities have been identified by the national body of Irish Water.

The Taoiseach should not forget the home tax.

It is unfair of Deputy Gerry Adams to assume that he can have a sector of society which can well afford to pay the modest contribution to Irish water but chooses not to do so while their neighbours pay their way, as they have done for many years.

What does Irish Water have to do with it?

What about my question?

Waffle.

The Government will act as it has on the other issues about which I was unhappy.

What about the lead in Raheny? Get the lead out.

First, we are entitled to have the Minister receive the report, read it, assess it and bring his propositions to the Government for Government action. The Government will defend and act in the interests of the taxpayer. Deputy Gerry Adams will see evidence of this, I hope, not before too long.