I move amendment No. 1:—
In page 2, to add at the end of Section 4, a new sub-section as follows:—
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring that an instalment order shall provide for payment of the whole of the debt and costs within the period during which such order continues in force.
The object of this amendment is to make it clear that the justice is under no obligation to fix instalments at such an amount as would ensure payment of the debt within the period of six years in a case where he is satisfied that the payment of such instalments would be too heavy a strain on the debtor. As I have already explained, the intention is that in the case of a very large debt the justice should order the debtor to pay as much as he can during the period of six years and that if a balance is left over at the end of the six-year period the creditor should forego that amount unless some remedy other than the instalment order procedure is open to him. I think that meets the point Deputy Cosgrave raised on the last occasion.
