Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I can confirm that the heads of the second Bill referred to by the Deputy have been finalised for later in the year. He will be aware that the question of allowances is the subject of an ongoing review in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I understand the Department has received over 800 business cases with regard to allowances. The review is being conducted at the moment. The heads will be finalised. It will be later in the year.

The personal insolvency Bill is very complex. A Cabinet sub-committee was dealing with this yesterday. I cannot be definite but we hope and would like to get the Bill through Second Stage before the summer recess. It is very complex. We do not want a situation where the door is opened to thousands of cases blocking up the courts. There is a way of trying to negotiate this. The Office of the Attorney General is in direct contact with the Department. I assure Deputy Martin that the Departments of Justice and Equality and Finance are working very actively on this.

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