Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 8, before section 3, to insert the following new section:

"3.—(1) The Minister shall, by way of Ministerial Order within 6 months of the commencement of this Act, introduce a spent conviction regime applicable to persons with a conviction resulting from their inability to pay a debt.

(2) The order made under this section shall require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.".

Tá sé i gceist agam é seo a tharraingt siar, ach sula dhéanfaidh mé é sin ba mhaith liom cúpla ceist a chur ar an Aire Stáit. I intend to withdraw this amendment but before I do so I want to ask the Minister of State some questions. The amendment was tabled inadvertently because it does not apply. Does the judge take into account previous instances of non-payment? Does he or she take into account the percentage being charged on the loan when making a determination on the scale of the debt and the way it should be repaid and whether it is appropriate?

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