F L AN END A C BASED ON MEANS? A N E N D B A S E D O N M E A N S ? A report on how the legal system in the Republic of Ireland treats uncontested consumer debt cases with an examination of alternatives and proposals for reform. yce Paul Jo es Email:
[email protected] Free Legal Advice Centr Fax: (01) 874 5320 13 Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 874 5690 www.flac.ie AN END BASED ON MEANS? A report on how the legal system in the Republic of Ireland treats un- contested consumer debt cases with an examination of alternatives and proposals for reform. FREE LEGAL ADVICE CENTRES - 2003 Acknowledgements There are many people, far too numerous to name, who have helped with material and encouragement for this report; money advisors throughout Europe, Britain and Ireland, an assortment of public servants, creditor representatives and many individuals who responded in a helpful manner to requests for information as well as the staff, council members and volunteers of the Free Legal Advice Centres. However, grateful thanks are specifically due to two individuals who have played a key role in seeing this work come to fruition; Daithi Downey, formerly of the Combat Poverty Agency whose support and research expertise was essential in shaping the early drafts of the report and Stuart Stamp, formerly of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service whose support and money advice expertise was essential in delivering what is, hopefully, a coherent final version. s This report is dedicated to money advisors everywhere who work on an everyday t n e basis with people who are indebted and over-indebted.