Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the introduction of a scheme, similar to the United Kingdom individual voluntary arrangements, to assist those in difficulty with personal debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3143/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Law Reform Commission's Consultation Paper on Personal Debt Management and Debt Enforcement, published in September 2009, contains an extensive list of provisional recommendations for reform of the law on personal debt that includes provision for a system of non-judicial debt settlement. While the system of Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA's) that operates in the United Kingdom is referred to in the Paper in that context, no recommendation is made in that regard. The Commission has indicated that the date for completion of submissions on its Paper is the end of January 2010. It is aiming to have its Final Report available by end of August 2010.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government intends that early action be taken by the relevant Departments, including my Department, to address the Commission's final views on all matters, including those on non-judicial debt settlement systems.