Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The intention would be that the review period would commence after the legislation has been working for three full years. I accept what the Deputy says. We do not need a review period that takes, for example, a further 18 months. If there is a statutory review period, the insolvency agencies, personal insolvency practitioners, the money advice and budgeting service, MABS, free legal advice centres, FLAC, or anybody with experience of the working of the legislation will know the review will start at the end of year three and will be able to do preparatory work to examine the working of the legislation critically and constructively. I will give consideration to requiring not only that the review commences at a particular point but that the outcome of the review and any recommendations derived from it will be published within a specified period.

I want to give some thought to what the period will be. It may be that it is to be published no later than, for example, six months or whatever period is appropriate. If the review is completed earlier, there will be no blockage on its publication. It is desirable not to be in a position where a review commences one year and we do not know the outcome for 18 months. That would be counterproductive and would defeat the purpose of the three-year review.

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