Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

This proposal was the subject of significant discussion in the other House and I undertook to re-examine it. However, the view of the drafters of amendment No. 33 is that paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of section 12 significantly deal with the issue of financial circumstances and that what is being proposed would not add to it in any way.

As for amendment No. 34, section 12 (b) is drafted in such a way that no assets are excluded. It specifies "the aggregate value of all property (real and personal) belonging to the person". Again, the Parliamentary Counsel's view is that this allows for a situation in which no property or assets will be excluded.