Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I second the amendment. I also support it. The amendment reads: "Where exceptional circumstances arise such that arrangements under section 34(2) cannot be put in place without causing undue hardship, a housing authority may cancel the obligation of a household to pay part or all of the moneys referred to in that section". This amendment gives a housing authority the power to waive moneys owed by tenants if the payment of such moneys would cause undue hardship. If moneys are owed by tenants in the first instance, they must have accrued as a result of financial hardship. I do not believe anybody is playing a game here in regard to that.

As the Acting Chairman will know from our division of Cork County Council, we have dealt with cases involving people who have fallen into difficulty weekend after weekend. Given the downturn in the economic fortunes of this country and the fact that many more people are unemployed compared to this time 12 months ago, acceptance of this amendment is important to ensure we put on a statutory footing the obligation on a council to waive such moneys that have accrued given that the payment of them would cause tenants financial hardship.

Another point also arises in this respect. The executive functions of managers are far superior to the reserve functions of members of local authorities. That is an issue I have continuously raised here in the context of powerful local councillors. If there is discretion at executive level, we have no guarantee that such discretion would be used in favour of somebody who, in any reasonable thinking person's mind, should have any moneys in arrears waived because the payment of them would cause the person financial hardship.

I appeal to the Minister to accept this amendment. It is made in good faith. If we have learned anything since 14 October, it is that times are tough in this country and they are most difficult on families, particularly those on low incomes.