Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would also make the point that inheritance tax perpetuates more unequal societies. I am very surprised the Senator would raise an issue such as child care and, in the same breath, suggest that people should be able to have tax relief on wealth they do not earn when, obviously, the more wealth they inherit, the more unequal society is. We do not see too many people on social welfare inheriting more than €225,000, and, by the way, it is €225,000 per child. On that point, I would be very happy to have a wider debate on the whole issue of fairness.

I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Willie Penrose, on the fact his proposal to reduce the period of bankruptcy to one year was accepted, as I understand it, unanimously by the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality yesterday. I ask that this would be incorporated into law as quickly as possible. We have all seen the desperate situation in this country and the unwillingness of banks to resolve the situation for people. The period of bankruptcy, together with the bank veto, have been identified as two issues which are still delaying the resolution of the serious issue of mortgage arrears. Will the Leader ask the relevant Minister when Deputy Penrose's very welcome proposal of limiting the bankruptcy period to one year will be incorporated into law?