Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley. There is nothing new in the statement by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter. It is unfair that a young couple or person going down the road of personal insolvency must pay €500 before being able to do so. I stand to be corrected in questioning the statement that our procedures are in line with those in other jurisdictions. My information is that there are no fees involved in the United Kingdom. I ask the Minister of State to clarify this. I will check my sources and information to determine whether the Minister of State was correct in making the statement. I have been assured by a practitioner that there are no fees in the United Kingdom. Through the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, I ask that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, clarify the position on fees. I ask the Minister to remove the fee of €500 as it is totally at odds with what we are trying to do. According to the explanation, the fee is to fund the actual service. People in debt should not be asked to fund it again when the banks have already been funded for this purpose.