Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 27 relates to the value of the car. It is not necessary to put a value limit on a car. The reality for the people who will be able to avail of a debt relief notice is that they will not have a car worth much more than that. It would be a shame if the car was worth ¤1,500 or ¤2,000. Who will value it and how will it be ascertained? Will one have to wait for six months for it to depreciate? This provision is not necessary. These are broken people with debts of less than ¤20,000, ¤15 per week net disposable income and other assets of ¤400 or less.

Amendment No. 29 proposes to insert "assets necessary for the maintenance or education of any children of the debtor who are aged 18 years or under". This refers to equipment such as computers, books, desks and so forth. Again, these will be individual cases and that should be listed in the relevant section. I look forward to the Minister's response.