Independent TD withdraws Bill to help prevent house repossessions

Independent TD Stephen Donnelly has this afternoon withdrawn a proposed Bill to give judges powers to refuse to order repossessions of family homes.

The Wicklow TD used three hours of a special Dáil sitting today to have the measures debated.

It would have been defeated in a vote by the Government next week, however.

He said that he now intends to work with Justice Minister Alan Shatter to try to have some of the measures incorporated into the proposed insolvency and bankruptcy legislation.

Earlier, Minister Shatter said that while laudable, the Bill would probably have been unconstitutional.

"The Bill, unfortunately, is poorly drafted, and is both somewhat confused in its approach, and lacking essential detail," he said.

"Its provisions give rise to serious constitutional and legal difficulties, and could impose time-consuming and costly procedures, both on the court and the parties engaged in repossession proceedings."

The Minister also stated that the Bill "gives rise to serious constitutional problems and essentially the Bill, as presented, is completely unworkable".