Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

This is an important Bill. I agree with everything said by my colleague, Deputy Tom Hayes.

For the past two Sundays a journalist by the name of Eamon Quinn has been writing in the Sunday Tribune about an application which is before the courts. I understand it is an application from a Mr. Seán FitzPatrick to have a hearing in camera in regard to the way he would deal with his creditors. Every citizen of this country, whether it be Seán FitzPatrick or myself, has the right to make whatever application he or she wishes to make before the courts provided the courts agree with it but the key point is that an application from somebody whose house or property is being repossessed and who may be in significant financial difficulties is usually made in public in open court. There is total transparency and accountability in terms of what happens in the court.

The key issue in this case is that-----

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