Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

There is no inability-to-pay clause anywhere in this Bill which would apply if a citizen was in negative equity or in circumstances in which he or she could not pay even if she wanted to. We are opposed to anyone ending up in prison as a result of this process. The State should back people up. If we are able to pay €26,000 a day in fines to Europe, surely we should be able to help citizens who are strapped for cash. They in particular should be helped out in this situation and we should make sure nobody ends up in prison.

We will take in good faith what the Minister has said about amendment No. 8, although we will talk to our cohort in the Dáil and we expect this amendment to be taken into consideration there. For that reason I will withdraw amendment No. 8.