Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I just want to come in on this. I welcome the Minister of State, by the way. I thank him for his work. I must say he is a very accessible Minister of State and available to everyone on all sides. In fairness, anyone would say that about his work as Minister of State. I just want to make the point that when somebody is adjudged to be bankrupt, it is basically a conviction for life. The Minister of State will accept that. Decent people who were bankrupt have been cleared. Now we are reducing the relevant number of years to three and possibly to one. The relevant number of years in Britain is one. It is a conviction for life. Honourable people can be bankrupt. Walt Disney was bankrupt twice or three times. I mean there is nothing dishonourable about it. These things happen in life and in business. Why should a person be deprived of this right for all time? I do not think it is acceptable to tell someone they can never again serve on this board. I support my colleagues, Senators Craughwell and Darragh O'Brien, on this point. I think the Minister of State will look at this in a humane way. I am sure he will not be found wanting.