Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We had this debate on the pharmacy legislation. Pharmacists cannot practice once they are deemed to be bankrupt. A commitment was given that the issue would be examined in the context of legislation in that area. I welcome the amendments. We are living in a very different world from that of a number of years ago. As I said, we can have a debate, as we often do, on how we arrived at this point. It is important that we never include in legislation something that would inhibit an individual who, for whatever reason, has been declared bankrupt or has made a composition arrangement with creditors from participating in an activity. That would undermine the capacity of such people to earn a lawful salary. I welcome the clarity that has been brought to the matter and I hope the issue will be examined in any other legislation that is introduced. As a nation we are trying to move to a situation in which people who have been burdened with debt, for whatever reason, and have filed for bankruptcy or come to a composition under the Personal Insolvency Act are not thereby ineligible for particular posts. It shows we do not always waste our time on Committee Stage. I thank the Minister.

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