Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

There is. Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle will allow me to finish the sentence. It has been reported this week that at least one person has been imprisoned by the courts for failure to pay debts in respect of either a credit card or financial institution loan. This is happening to at least one person every day since the introduction by Government of the bailout for the banking institutions.

The renewed programme for Government, with which the Ceann Comhairle will be familiar, was agreed by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party and gives a commitment to ensuring that the imprisonment of debtors and fine defaulters is used only as a penalty of last resort and will, in general, attempt to ensure that prison is the option of last resort for non-serious crime. What further legislative action will the Government take in respect of this commitment in the renewed programme for Government? Has the Government noted that the Law Reform Commission has urged it to introduce legislation to end imprisonment for the non-payment of debt? What steps are being taken to address this serious and scandalous situation?

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