Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It can. Of course it can. The information must be passed over. The central credit register has been operating for a number of years now without PPS numbers. I am not arguing the point, I just want to know what the process is with this amendment. I am, however, very concerned about the facilitation of credit to people who cannot afford it. I am also very concerned that, given what is happening with buy-now, pay-later loans and the level of default that is happening and particularly in the younger age group, they would have a negative credit history that will impact them when they try to go for other loans or a mortgage in future years. That is the problem.

There is a wider issue around these buy now, pay later loans. This is going to come with serious consequences for individuals, and those consequences were not there up onto now because they were not captured in the central credit register. The central credit register will follow them around for a number of years. The majority of those people, and including over 65s, would find it difficult to get a mortgage or other loans later in life. I am teeing up with the amendment later on, but we must deal with the buy now pay later loans.