Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

We need to get the economy moving for the benefit of society and we need to recognise that individuals are in insubstantial difficulty, many through no fault of their own, and this legislation is designed to be of assistance to them. The legislation is designed to assist those who cannot pay as opposed to those who will not pay. Some of the contributions made by Members, particularly those in the Technical Group, seem to be based on the assumption that even if one can pay debts, one does not need to.

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