Amendments Nos. 81 and 81a are related and may be taken together.
SECTION 21.
Mr. McDowell
I move amendment No. 81:
In page 18, subsection (1), line 13, after "the" to insert "purchase and/or the".
The opening words of section 21 proposes that where a spouse contributes in money or money's worth to the improvement of real property or personal property certain things may happen. It is proposed to amend that to read where a spouse contributes in money or money's worth to the purchase and/or the improvement of real property etc. . . . I would be interested to hear the Minister's view as to whether that is an appropriate amendment in the circumstances.
This is similar to Deputy Shatter's amendment. Are we to be given the time to discuss it?
We will conclude, if Members agree, when we dispose of section 21.
Deputy Shatter tabled a similar amendment and, again, he may not have anticipated the pace of progress of the meeting. It will be interesting to hear the Minister's thinking in relation to this. I thought this provision on first reading was a substantial improvement in the acknowledgment of the contribution of women or the potential contribution of the spouse to the home, which might not have been recognised with the improvement of property or items owned. It was pointed out to me, as it was to others, that the existing provisions omits the contribution towards the acquisition of a property or item which could be quite substantial. It will be interesting to hearing if the Minister has been convinced by the arguments put to him.
As it is now past the time agreed, and in view of the fact that Deputy Shatter has tabled an amendment to this section, I think we should adjourn the discussion. We will resume on amendments Nos. 81 and 81a on Monday, 20 September, 1993 at 2.30 p.m.
The Select Committee adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Monday, 20 September, 1993.