Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

Amendments Nos. 69 and 72 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Government amendment No. 69:

In page 34, lines 23 to 32, to delete subsection (5).

These amendments insert a new section, section 34, in place of section 33(5). Under the existing section 33(5), the provisions relating to rescheduling of repayments in the case of hardship apply to rent and loan repayments due to the housing authorities as well as to profit claw back payments. The provisions in the new section do not apply to profit claw back payments. There is no basis for allowing hardship arguments to be presented in the case of profit claw back payments, which are designed to ensure housing authorities share in the profits made by householders on the sale of dwellings, which were originally purchased at a discount from the housing authority.