Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. The subject raised by Senator MacSharry unquestionably is very important and is something all Members have witnessed in the constituencies in which they live throughout the length and breadth of the country. However, I find it extraordinary that some Members, including the last two speakers, have come into the Chamber without reading the Minister's response to the debate and the Bill's introduction. I will quote two items from his speech. He stated:

The focus of today's debate is illegal moneylending, which is addressed by section 98 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995. This prohibits any person from engaging in the business of moneylending without a licence. Acting as an agent of an unlicensed moneylender is also prohibited.

He then went on to outline what were the powers and to make the single point that sums up the whole lot, namely, "The Bill effectively replicates offences which are already on the Statute Book". In other words, the offences provided for in the Bill before Members are already covered by the Statute Book.