Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to deal with two other issues in the six or seven minutes that are left before I call Deputy Michael McGrath. Recently, the Insolvency Service of Ireland contacted Bank of Ireland and the other financial institutions with regard to the consultative process for personal insolvency arrangements, etc. The issue of a payment break is being considered as part of that process. The incomes of people in resolution processes are accounted for. A certain amount is used to service debt and a certain amount is used to pay household bills, etc. Payment breaks are designed for people who encounter emergencies such as bereavements. The family car might need to be changed or a child might be making his or her Confirmation. People might need that money immediately, but they do not have it to hand. I would like the representatives of Bank of Ireland to explain how they see payment breaks being managed. I am not sure what is the level of architecture in place. If a person who pays €1,000 a month to Bank of Ireland as part of the resolution process qualifies for an emergency payment of €3,000, how can he or she receive that €3,000 without defaulting on the resolution programme with Bank of Ireland?