John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The powers set out in section 6 do not place my Department in a better position than any other creditor. It will be necessary for application to be made to the appropriate court of competent jurisdiction to obtain the relief provided for in the Bill. I refer here, for example, to the garnishee order provided for in the section. My Department is unable to redirect payments due from third parties who might owe money to an annuitant without first making application to the court. We have put measures in place to ensure that farmers who do not avail of the voluntary scheme maintain their annuity payments thereafter. I could repeat the points I made in regard to amendment No. 6. The measures will only be applied after consultation with the annuitant and in an appropriate and compassionate manner.

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