Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has said the Government’s incoherence over new personal insolvency rules is creating great distress among Mayo families who are crippled by debt.
The Fianna Fáil Deputy has also criticised the Taoiseach for washing his hands of the exorbitant cost of childcare – an issue that is putting thousands of families in an impossible position.
“There is still much confusion over just how far families will have to go to resolve their debt issues under new personal insolvency arrangements introduced by the Government,” said Dep Calleary.
“While the Taoiseach has said no one will be forced to quit their job, he stopped short of stating that childcare costs will be taken off the table completely. Meanwhile his cabinet colleague Minister Leo Varadkar could not have been clearer that childcare will be an issue under new insolvency rules.”
Dep Calleary said that no family should find themselves in situation where they have to choose between a job and childcare. “It is simply not good enough for the Taoiseach to wash his hands on this issue, when it’s causing so much stress for young families. The Taoiseach, Minister Burton and Minister Fitzgerald need to tackle exorbitant childcare costs instead of standing back and blaming everyone else.
“We need to know once and for all that there will be no anti-family, anti-women and anti-job rules under Fine Gael and Labour’s new personal insolvency arrangement. I have already expressed concerns that the plan gives far too much power to the banks instead of supporting and empowering people crippled by debt. And now we are hearing of unacceptable rules that could be imposed on the families affected.”
Dep Calleary has called on all Fine Gael representatives across Mayo to stand up for the families they represent and ensure that the Government rules out such “draconian measures” and finally addresses the pressing issue of childcare.
