Taoiseach: No one will be forced to quit job if childcare exceeds salary

THE TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has said the new personal insolvency guidelines “will not impose conditions on anyone, woman or man, to give up employment”.

It disputes comments made by the Minister of Transport Leo Varadkar who said that childcare costs would have to be taken into consideration in insolvency arrangements if couples cannot meet mortgage repayments.

Speaking during a round of Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil this morning, the leader of Fianna Fail Michael Martin said the guidelines were “anti-women, anti-family and anti-employment”. He also blamed the government for being “incoherent” following what he said was “confirmation” by Minister Varadkar that giving up employment could be a possibility as part of the insolvency guidelines.

The Taoiseach said that every case would be looked at “individually” by sitting down with a lender. If that doesn’t work a person can meet with the Personal Insolvency Agency, however, there will be “no guidelines” that says they should have to give up employment.

“It is entirely up to the couple as what they wish to do,” said Kenny.

He also said the guidelines have not been “officially published” yet, to which the Fianna Fail leader said he welcomed that the guidelines would be changed when they are “officially published”. However, Kenny did not say if the guidelines would be altered or not.

Read: Mortgage write-offs ‘could be subject to 33pc tax’ >

More: Government outlines plan to tackle mortgage arrears >