SEANAD:YOUNG COUPLES should not be burdened by the threat of repossession of their homes if, through no fault of their own, they could not keep up mortgage repayments, Seanad leader Donie Cassidy stressed.

Everything possible must be done to assist such people, who could not sleep at night for fear of losing the roof over their heads. Mr Cassidy complemented party colleague Marc Mac Sharry on coming forward with specific proposals to address this problem, saying that he would have time set aside to have them debated in the near future.

Mr Mac Sharry said he thought the ESRI estimate, that 35,000 families would be unable to pay their mortgages next year, was conservative. " I think we are faced with an imminent social disaster." He was circulating to all members a report with tangible recommendations which could form the legislative basis for improvements to assist families who, as a direct result of the economic crisis, genuinely could not meet their mortgage commitments.

Dominic Hannigan (Lab) said he disagreed with claims that steps were in train to reform the regime of expenses for Oireachtas members. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan needed to take action now on the expenses issue, he said.