Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I am happy to accept amendment No. 50. In respect of amendment No. 51, I have serious reservations about allowing ex parte applications. This section deals with cases in which the mortgagee has reasonable grounds for believing the mortgaged property has been abandoned. However, that may not be the case. Allowing an ex parte application could be open to abuse and would not be in the public interest.

As for the textual change proposed in amendment No. 52, my advice from the draftsman is not to accept it as it does not improve the text.