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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Personal insolvency guidelines

Summary

The Deputy Leader expresses concern about draft insolvency guidance that could pressure parents over childcare costs, supports a debate after publication and points to existing mortgage-arrears advice services.

The Senator would make a very good Minister. I will put that on my little list.

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I am delighted to be on that list, I think.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames referred to the draft insolvency guidelines which will be published next week by the PIA. It would be a matter of great concern if the final version were to include what we have seen in the draft Niamh Connolly first reported in The Sunday Business Post and a possibility that parents would have to give up work if their child care costs were too high. Many of us have said in the media that this should not be included in the guidelines and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames put it very eloquently. It would be a matter of grave concern if parents were to be forced by banks to give up work because of child care costs. It would be utterly short-sighted and guidelines that suggest it would be wrong.

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They are draft guidelines.

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That is right and the final guidelines may well be changed.

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I was very impressed with the Senator's defence.

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I would welcome and will request a debate on the issue. In the course of that debate we might look at the system set up by the Minister for Social Protection for a mortgage arrears information and advice service that was launched in September. It includes a website, keepingyourhome.ie, which has had 65,000 visitors and an information helpline. There other ways by which people can receive disinterested and impartial advice on how to cope with high mortgage payments. That is something we should highlight.

Senator Ned O'Sullivan referred to the result of the Meath East by-election. He appeared to have news from there, but it might be a little early to tell. I know the Labour Party candidate, Councillor Eoin Holmes, ran an excellent campaign in which I was proud to help.

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