Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will bring forward legislative proposals to change the law on debt enforcement in view of his speech to a Law Reform Commission conference on debt on 18 November 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5605/10]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when, in respect of the relevant commitment given in the Revised Programme for Government, he will bring forward proposals for an extra judicial debt settlement mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5326/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 80 together.

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. The Commission had indicated that the date for completion of submissions on its Paper was 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 is considering all avenues of approach in this area and, in so far as the final recommendations of the Law Reform Commission are concerned, it intends that early action be taken by the relevant Departments, including my Department.