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276 people jailed for not paying their debts in 2008

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  • 06-07-2009 11:39am
    #1
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/276-people-jailed-for-not-paying-debts-last-year-1808096.html

    Two hundred and seventy-six people were imprisoned for not paying their debts last year, according to a report published today by the Free Legal Advice Centre.

    The centre says the figures underline the need for urgent reform of Ireland's "Dickensian" laws on debt enforcement.

    It says the process of debt collection in Ireland almost seems designed to exclude the debtor from having a role and from understanding what is involved.

    FLAC's call for reform is being supported by the Irish Banking Federation, which says the current process causes unnecessary distress and wastes resources.


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    #2
    MG
    Closed Accounts Posts: 823 ✭✭✭MG


    smccarrick wrote: »
    http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/276-people-jailed-for-not-paying-debts-last-year-1808096.html

    Two hundred and seventy-six people were imprisoned for not paying their debts last year, according to a report published today by the Free Legal Advice Centre.

    The centre says the figures underline the need for urgent reform of Ireland's "Dickensian" laws on debt enforcement.

    It says the process of debt collection in Ireland almost seems designed to exclude the debtor from having a role and from understanding what is involved.

    FLAC's call for reform is being supported by the Irish Banking Federation, which says the current process causes unnecessary distress and wastes resources.

    If they were developers, they'd be calling for them to be jailed.

    Ok maybe the laws needs to be reformed, but to remove the threat of jail gives people even less incentive to repay their debts.

    It's non-repayment of debts that have got us into this mess, so there is an argument for increasing the incentive to repay (and disincentivising over borrowing)


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    #3
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    How about simply reforming personal bankruptcy law- akin to the UK situation? Our personal bankruptcy law is still modeled on Victorian legislation.......


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    #4
    D3PO
    Registered Users Posts: 7,879 ✭✭✭D3PO


    i believe emergency legistlation re civil debts is being pushed through the dail today. will be interesting to read the ammendments


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    #5
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    D3PO wrote: »
    i believe emergency legistlation re civil debts is being pushed through the dail today. will be interesting to read the ammendments

    Good to hear it. I wasn't aware of that. You might update this thread if you get any info. Cheers, Shane


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    #6
    D3PO
    Registered Users Posts: 7,879 ✭✭✭D3PO


    smccarrick wrote: »
    Good to hear it. I wasn't aware of that. You might update this thread if you get any info. Cheers, Shane

    will do. The Oireachtas website doesnt seem to show a sitting of the dail today but I heard this on Newstalk.

    Will keep an eye on the website they will publish the ammendments there at some stage this week.


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    #7
    foxy06
    Registered Users Posts: 2,138 ✭✭✭foxy06


    http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0706/debt.html


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    #8
    ZYX
    Registered Users Posts: 882 ✭✭✭ZYX


    D3PO wrote: »
    i believe emergency legistlation re civil debts is being pushed through the dail today. will be interesting to read the ammendments

    As far as I know this emergency leglislation is to close a legal loophole to ensure people can still be sent to jail. No reforms are planned. Maybe some legal eagle can correct me.


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    #9
    D3PO
    Registered Users Posts: 7,879 ✭✭✭D3PO


    ZYX wrote: »
    As far as I know this emergency leglislation is to close a legal loophole to ensure people can still be sent to jail. No reforms are planned. Maybe some legal eagle can correct me.

    no the idea of it is to stop people being sent to jail for a civil debt once they prove they dont have the means to repay said debt.

    the fact 276 people have been jailed as the OP has said shows they wouldnt need to ammend to be able to send people to jail !!!


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