Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister noted the reason we tabled amendments Nos. 13 and 15, which we will discuss, is relative to the €30,000. If the threshold is increased from €20,000 to €30,000 the other thresholds must also be increased. The credit unions, FLAC and other interested parties have made representations to Deputies on the legislation as is their democratic right. They work on the ground at the coal face. Credit unions are unsecured lenders and they are concerned about the implications of the Bill for their community services. Somebody in the community has lent and the credit union has a responsibility to the community. I understand the point the Minister is making on setting a limit. I presume the free legal advice centres also speak from their direct experience on the ground and have not arbitrarily made up the figure of €30,000. People with more than the €20,000 threshold proposed in the Bill will have to choose another option, but other options will probably not be viable because of what those people have available to resolve their differences. The Minister would probably agree that it is a case of how long is a piece of string, but I ask him to consider this and review how the process works out as it is put in place in the coming years.

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