Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Finance the proposals envisaged under the Revised Programme for Government to help those in debt; his plans to introduce personal insolvency regulations allowing for a statutory non-court based debt settlement system; when he expects these new regulations to come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37692/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The main points contained in the revised Programme for Government dealing with personal debt are:

· Introducing new measures to protect families having difficulties with their home mortgage payments;

· Examining ways of expanding the existing options available for dealing with debt situations;

· Examining ways of expanding existing state sponsored mortgage-support measures;

· Regulating debt collection agencies;

· Introducing a new system of personal insolvency regulations allowing for a statutory non-court-based debt settlement system; and,

· Seeking to establish a central Debt Enforcement Office to remove as many debt enforcement proceeds from the courts as possible.

I should point out that, as Minister for Finance, I have no function in relation to personal bankruptcy law. This is a function of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The commitments contained in the revised Programme for Government span the broad area of personal debt management and its legislative framework and, as several relate to the responsibilities of several Government Departments, they will require close collaboration in the period ahead.

In this regard, the Law Reform Commission's recently published Consultation Paper on Personal Debt Management and Debt Enforcement has made an important contribution to this whole area and the relevant Departments are examining their recommendations.