I again raise the question of the so-called vulture funds that are proceeding at a rapid pace to repossess people's homes and businesses in a way not seen before. From their point of view, there is a great urgency to capitalise on the situation given that house prices and property prices are so high, even though the borrowers have kept up regular payments over a number of years. The lenders are now using obscure legislation to sell people's homes and businesses without having to go to court or to take any other measure. Could the Central Bank be asked to intervene or to evaluate the situation?

The Minister, Deputy McGrath, is very much apprised of this situation and is very concerned about it. We have all come across cases of people who have been paying their mortgages and who have a perfect payment record but whose mortgage has been sold to a non-bank lender and who now face very big increases in interest rates they would not have faced had the mortgage not been sold on. It is difficult to know what the solution to this is within existing law and regulations. The mortgage tax relief in the budget will help but it will only help a bit. We are currently exploring possible solutions but they have to be solutions that do not do more harm than good in the round.