Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013
In short
This law, the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013, makes various changes to how courts operate and to civil law, including rules about court attendance, court jurisdiction, juries, legal aid, and bankruptcy.
What it regulates
- Attendance of press at court proceedings that are not open to the public.
- Monetary limits for the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court and District Court in civil matters.
- The number of ordinary judges in the Supreme Court.
- The selection of additional jurors for long criminal trials.
- The provision of legal aid and advice for coroners' inquests.
- Amendments to bankruptcy and personal insolvency laws.
Who it concerns
- Bona fide representatives of the Press.
- Individuals involved in civil cases in the Circuit Court and District Court.
- Families of deceased persons in certain circumstances regarding coroners' inquests.
- Individuals affected by bankruptcy and personal insolvency.
Key points
- Allows bona fide representatives of the Press to attend court proceedings normally heard in private, with some exceptions.
- Increases the monetary limits for cases heard in the Circuit Court and District Court.
- Increases the number of ordinary judges of the Supreme Court to nine.
- Provides for legal aid or advice for families of deceased persons in certain circumstances related to coroners' inquests.
Legal text
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- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2013 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 32 of 2013 COURTS AND CIVIL LAW (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2013 CONTENTS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title, commencement and collective citations 2. Repeals PART 2 Amendment of Rules Relating to Certain Proceedings Heard Otherwise than in Public 3. Interpretation (Part 2) 4. Amendment of section 39 of Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 5. Amendment of section 40 of Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 6. Amendment of Part 3 of Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 7. Amendment of section 2 of Child Care Act 1991 8. Amendment of section 29 of Child Care Act 1991 9. Amendment of section 31 of Child Care Act 1991 10. Amendment of section 18 of Adoption Act 2010 11. Amendment of section 30 of Adoption Act 2010 12. Amendment of section 31 of Adoption Act 2010 PART 3 Jurisdiction of District Court and Circuit Court 13. Interpretation (Part 3) 14. Extension of monetary limit of jurisdiction of Circuit Court 15. Extension of monetary limit of jurisdiction of District Court 16. Amendment of Courts of Justice Act 1936 17. Amendment of Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 18. Amendment of section 10 of Hotel Proprietors Act 1963 19. Amendment of section 17 of Courts Act 1981 20. Amendment of section 15
- Amendment of Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 PART 4 Amendment of Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961
- Amendment of section 1 of Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961 PART 5 Juries in Lengthy Trials
- Amendment of Juries Act 1976 PART 6 Legal Aid and Legal Advice in Relation to Coroners’ Inquests
- Amendment of Coroners Act 1962
- Amendment of Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 PART 7 Bankruptcy
- Interpretation (Part 7)
- Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1988
- Amendment of section 8 of Act of 1988
- Amendment of section 60 of Act of 1988
- Amendment of section 63 of Act of 1988
- Amendment of section 69 of Act of 1988
- Repeal of section 83 of Act of 1988
- Amendment of section 84 of Act of 1988
- Amendment of section 85B of Act of 1988
- Insertion of section 86A in Act of 1988
- Amendment of section 144 of Act of 1988
- Repeal of section 6 of and Schedule 1 to Personal Insolvency Act 2012
- Amendment of section 9 of Personal Insolvency Act 2012
- Amendment of section 17 of Personal Insolvency Act 2012
- Amendment of section 20 of Personal Insolvency Act 2012
- Miscellaneous amendments to enactments consequential on transfer of Official Assignee to Insolvency Service PART 8 Amendment of Personal Insolvency Act 2012
- Definition (Part 8)
- Amendment of section 5 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 8 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 9 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 13 of Act of 2012
- New section 21A in Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 25 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 27 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 29 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 31 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 34 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 35 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 36 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 37 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 39 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 43 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 45 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 46 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 47 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 49 of Act of 2012
- Insertion of sections 49A, 49B and 49C in Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 54 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 59 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 61 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 62 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 65 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 71 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 72 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 73 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 75 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 76 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 78 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 79 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 82 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 83 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 85 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 86 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 91 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 93 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 95 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 96 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 102 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 107 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 112 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 113 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 115 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 116 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 119 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 122 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 124 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 125 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 136 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 161 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 164 of Act of 2012
- Amendment of section 37 of Courts of Justice Act 1936
- Amendment of section 10 of Courts of Justice Act 1947 PART 9 Miscellaneous
- Amendment of section 38 of Courts of Justice Act 1936 SCHEDULE Part 1 Extension of Monetary Limit of Jurisdiction of Circuit Court Part 2 Extension of Monetary Limit of Jurisdiction of District Court Acts Referred to Adoption Act 2010 (No. 21) Air Pollution Act 1987 (No. 6) Animal Remedies Act 1993 (No. 23) Attorneys’ and Solicitors’ Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c.28) Bankruptcy Act 1988 (No. 27) Broadcasting Act 2009 (No. 18) Child Care Act 1991 (No. 17) Children Act 2001 (No. 24) Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (No. 32) Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 (No. 31) Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (No. 24) Consumer Credit Act 1995 (No. 24) Coroners Act 1962 (No. 9) Coroners Acts 1962 and 2005 Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961 (No. 38) Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 (No. 39) Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts 1961 to 2012 Courts Act 1971 (No. 36) Courts Act 1981 (No. 11) Courts Act 1991 (No. 20) Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 (No. 31) Courts and Court Officers Act 2002 (No. 15) Courts of Justice Act 1924 (No. 10) Courts of Justice Act 1936 (No. 48) Courts of Justice Act 1947 (No. 20) Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 (No. 11) Data Protection Act 1988 (No. 25) Defamation Act 2009 (No. 31) Defence Act 1954 (No. 18) Domestic Violence Act 1996 (No. 1) Dormant Accounts Act 2001 (No. 32) Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1926 (No. 18) Family Home Protection Act 1976 (No. 27) Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 (No. 33) Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 (No. 11) Family Law Act 1981 (No. 22) Family Law Act 1995 (No. 26) Finance Act 2001 (No. 7) Finance Act 2011 (No. 6) Foreshore (Amendment) Act 1992 (No. 17) Harbours Act 1996 (No. 11) Hire-Purchase Acts 1946 and 1960 Hotel Proprietors Act 1963 (No. 7) Juries Act 1976 (No. 4) Legitimacy Act 1931 (No. 13) Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977 (No. 1) Maintenance Act 1994 (No. 28) Mental Health Act 2001 (No. 25) Personal Insolvency Act 2012 (No. 44) Prisons Act 2007 (No. 10) Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (No. 37) Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1960 (No. 37) Status of Children Act 1987 (No. 26) Waste Management Act 1996 (No. 10) Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 (No. 38) Wildlife Act 1976 (No. 39) Number 32 of2013 COURTS AND CIVIL LAW (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2013 An Act to amend the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 , the Child Care Act 1991 and the Adoption Act 2010 to allow bona fide representatives of the Press to attend court during proceedings heard otherwise than in public except in certain circumstances; and to provide for the prohibition or restriction of the publication and broadcasting of matters by such representatives in certain circumstances; to amend various enactments for the purpose of increasing the monetary limit of the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in personal injuries actions and other civil matters; to amend various enactments for the purpose of increasing the monetary limit of the jurisdiction of the District Court in civil matters; to repeal certain provisions of the Courts and Court Officers Act 2002 ; to amend the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961 to increase the number of ordinary judges of the Supreme Court to nine; to amend the Juries Act 1976 to provide for the selection of additional jurors in lengthy criminal trials; to amend the Coroners Act 1962 and the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 to provide for the provision of legal aid or advice, or both, in respect of coroners’ inquests to families of deceased persons in certain circumstances; to amend the Bankruptcy Act 1988 ; to amend the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 ; and to provide for related matters. [24th July, 2013 Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: PART 1 Preliminary and General Short title, commencement and collective citations 1.
- a)in the definition of “Act of 1996”, by substituting “ Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 ;” for “ Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 .”, and (
- b)by inserting the following definitions: “ ‘Act of 2010’ means the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 ; ‘broadcast’ has the same meaning as it has in section 2 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ; ‘publish’ means publish, other than by way of broadcast, to the public or a portion of the public; ‘relevant enactment’ means any of the following provisions: (
- a)section 2(1B) (inserted by section 20 of the Courts Act 1971 ) of the Legitimacy Act 1931 ; (
- b)section 45 of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 (in so far as it relates to matrimonial causes or matters, or minor matters); (
- c)section 25 of the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 ; (
- d)section 10 of the Act of 1976; (
- e)section 36 of the Status of Children Act 1987 ; (
- f)section 34 of the Act of 1989; (
- g)section 7 of the Maintenance Act 1994 ; (
- h)section 33 or 38 of the Act of 1995; (
- i)section 38 of the Act of 1996; (
- j)section 16 of the Domestic Violence Act 1996 ; (
- k)section 18 , 30 , 31 , 49 , 54 or 92 of the Adoption Act 2010 ; (
- l)section 145 or 199 of the Act of 2010.”. Amendment of section 40 of Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 5. Section 40 of the Act of 2004 is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- a)Subject to paragraph (b), nothing contained in a relevant enactment shall operate to prohibit bona fide representatives of the Press from attending proceedings to which the relevant enactment relates. (
- b)Subject to paragraphs (
- c)and (d), where, in proceedings under a relevant enactment, a court is satisfied that it is necessary to do so— (
- i)in order to preserve the anonymity of a party to the proceedings or any child to whom the proceedings relate, (
- ii)by reason of the nature or circumstances of the case, or (iii) as it is otherwise necessary in the interests of justice, the court may, on its own motion, or on application to it by a party to the proceedings or by a person on behalf of a child to whom the proceedings relate, by order— (I) exclude, or otherwise restrict the attendance of, bona fide representatives of the Press from the court during the hearing or particular parts of it, or (II) prohibit or restrict the publication or broadcasting of any evidence given or referred to during the proceedings or any part of such evidence, and any such order may, with regard to any restriction, contain such conditions as the court considers appropriate. (
- c)In determining whether or not to make an order under paragraph (b), a court shall have regard to the desirability of promoting public confidence in the administration of justice and to any other matter that appears to it to be relevant and shall, in particular, have regard to the following: (
- i)the best interests of a child to whom the proceedings relate; (
- ii)the views, if any, of— (I) a party to the proceedings, and (II) a child to whom the proceedings relate who is, in the opinion of the court, capable of forming his or her own views; (iii) whether information given or likely to be given in evidence is sensitive personal information; (
- iv)the extent to which the attendance of bona fide representatives of the Press might inhibit or cause undue distress to a party to the proceedings or a child to whom the proceedings relate by reason of the emotional condition or any medical condition, physical impairment or intellectual disability of the party or the child concerned; (
- v)the need to protect a party to the proceedings or a child to whom the proceedings relate against coercion, intimidation or harassment; (
- vi)whether information given or likely to be given in evidence might be prejudicial to a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings; (vii) whether information given or likely to be given in evidence is commercially sensitive information; and (viii) whether information of the type referred to in subparagraphs (iii), (
- vi)and (vii) when taken together with other information would, if published or broadcast, be likely to lead members of the public to identify a party to the proceedings or a child to whom the proceedings relate. (
- d)In considering the views of a child referred to in clause (II) of paragraph (c)(ii), a court shall take account of the age and level of maturity of the child concerned. (
- e)Where evidence in proceedings to which a relevant enactment relates concerns a matter referred to in subparagraph (
- vi)of paragraph (c), an application under paragraph (
- b)may be made by or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (
- f)In this subsection— ‘commercially sensitive information’ means— (
- i)financial, commercial, scientific, technical or other information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to result in a material financial loss or gain to the person to whom it relates, or could prejudice the competitive position of that person in the conduct of his or her business or otherwise in his or her occupation, or (
- ii)information the disclosure of which could prejudice the conduct or outcome of contractual or other negotiations of the person to whom it relates; ‘party to the proceedings’ includes a witness in the proceedings; ‘sensitive personal information’ means information about a person that would, in the ordinary course of events, be known only to the person or members of the family, or friends, of the person, and includes but is not limited to— (
- i)information relating to the medical, psychiatric or psychological history of the person, (
- ii)information relating to the tax affairs of the person, (iii) information relating to the sexual conduct or sexual orientation of the person.”. Amendment of Part 3 of Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 6. The Act of 2004 is amended in Chapter 2 of Part 3 by inserting the following section after section 40: “Prohibition on publication or broadcast of certain matters 40A.
- a)in the case of publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical, (
- b)in the case of any other publication, the person who publishes it, and (
- c)in the case of a broadcast, any person who transmits or provides the programme in which the broadcast is made and any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a newspaper, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable— (
- i)on summary conviction, to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or (
- ii)on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.
- a)Where an offence under this section is committed by a body corporate and it is proved that the offence was committed with the consent or connivance, or was attributable to any wilful neglect, of a person who was a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or a person purporting to act in that capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of an offence and may be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence. (
- b)Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (
- a)applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his or her functions of management as if he or she were a director or manager of the body corporate.
- Section 2 of the Act of 1991 is amended by inserting the following definitions: “ ‘broadcast’ has the same meaning as it has in section 2 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ; ‘publish’ means publish, other than by way of broadcast, to the public or a portion of the public.”. Amendment of section 29 of Child Care Act 1991
- Section 29 of the Act of 1991 is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- b)Subject to paragraphs (
- c)and (d), where, in proceedings referred to in subsection
- i)in order to preserve the anonymity of a party to the proceedings or any child to whom the proceedings relate, (
- ii)by reason of the nature or circumstances of the case, or (iii) as it is otherwise necessary in the interests of justice, the court may, on its own motion, or on application to it by a party to the proceedings or by a person on behalf of a child to whom the proceedings relate, by order— (I) exclude, or otherwise restrict the attendance of, bona fide representatives of the Press from the court during the hearing or particular parts of it, or (II) prohibit or restrict the publication or broadcasting of any evidence given or referred to during the proceedings or any part of such evidence, and any such order may, with regard to any restriction, contain such conditions as the court considers appropriate. (
- c)In determining whether or not to make an order under paragraph (b), a court shall have regard to the desirability of promoting public confidence in the administration of justice and to any other matter that appears to it to be relevant and shall, in particular, have regard to the following: (
- i)the best interests of a child to whom the proceedings relate; (
- ii)the views, if any, of— (I) a party to the proceedings, and (II) a child to whom the proceedings relate who is, in the opinion of the court, capable of forming his or her own views; (iii) whether information given or likely to be given in evidence is sensitive personal information; (
- iv)the extent to which the attendance of bona fide representatives of the Press might inhibit or cause undue distress to a party to the proceedings or a child to whom the proceedings relate by reason of the emotional condition or any medical condition, physical impairment or intellectual disability of the party or the child concerned; (
- v)the need to protect a party to the proceedings or a child to whom the proceedings relate against coercion, intimidation or harassment; (
- vi)whether information given or likely to be given in evidence might be prejudicial to a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings; and (vii) whether information of the type referred to in subparagraphs (iii) and (
- vi)when taken together with other information would, if published or broadcast, be likely to lead members of the public to identify a party to the proceedings or a child to whom the proceedings relate. (
- d)In considering the views of a child referred to in clause (II) of paragraph (c)(ii), a court shall take account of the age and level of maturity of the child concerned. (
- e)Where evidence in proceedings referred to in subsection
- vi)of paragraph (c), an application under paragraph (
- b)may be made by or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (
- f)In this subsection— ‘party to the proceedings’ includes a witness in the proceedings; ‘sensitive personal information’ means information about a person that would, in the ordinary course of events, be known only to the person or members of the family, or friends, of the person, and includes but is not limited to— (
- i)information relating to the medical, psychiatric or psychological history of the person, (
- ii)information relating to the tax affairs of the person, (iii) information relating to the sexual conduct or sexual orientation of the person.”. Amendment of section 31 of Child Care Act 1991 9. Section 31 of the Act of 1991 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- i)in paragraph (c), by substituting “any person” for “any body corporate”, and (
- ii)by substituting the following for “shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both”: shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable— (
- i)on summary conviction, to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or (
- ii)on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both”, and (
- c)by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- a)Where an offence under this section is committed by a body corporate and it is proved that the offence was committed with the consent or connivance, or was attributable to any wilful neglect, of a person who was a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or a person purporting to act in that capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of an offence and may be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence. (
- b)Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (
- a)applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his or her functions of management as if he or she were a director or manager of the body corporate.”. Amendment of section 18 of Adoption Act 2010 10. Section 18 of the Act of 2010 is amended by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- In this Part— “Act of 1991” means the Courts Act 1991 ; “Act of 2009” means the Defamation Act 2009 ; “enactment” means a statute or an instrument made under a power conferred by statute. Extension of monetary limit of jurisdiction of Circuit Court
- Each provision specified in column
- a)by substituting “€75,000” for “£30,000” in each place where it occurs, (
- b)by substituting “€75,000” for “€38,092.14” in each place where it occurs, and (
- c)by substituting “€75,000” for “€38,092” in each place where it occurs, being the monetary limit for the time being standing specified of the jurisdiction so conferred. Extension of monetary limit of jurisdiction of District Court 15. Each provision specified in column
- a)by substituting “€15,000” for “£5,000” in each place where it occurs, (
- b)by substituting “€15,000” for “€6,348.69” in each place where it occurs, and (
- c)by substituting “€15,000” for “€6,350” in each place where it occurs, being the monetary limit for the time being standing specified of the jurisdiction so conferred. Amendment of Courts of Justice Act 1936 16. The Courts of Justice Act 1936 is amended— (
- a)in Part III, by inserting the following section before section 14: “Interpretation (Part III) 12A. In this Part ‘personal injuries action’ has the same meaning as it has in section 2 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 .”, (
- b)by substituting the following for section 20: “Jurisdiction of Circuit Court in certain remitted actions 20.
- b)in the Third Schedule— (
- i)at reference numbers 1, 2, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 29, in column
- a)of the Act of 1991), (
- ii)at reference number 3— (I) in column
- a)of the Act of 1991), (
- iv)at reference number 6— (I) in column
- a)of the Act of 1991): “Where— (
- a)in a personal injuries action, within the meaning of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 , the amount of the claim exceeds €60,000, or (
- b)in an action that is not an action referred to in paragraph (a), the amount of the claim exceeds €75,000.”, (
- v)by deleting reference number 7A (inserted by section 41(
- b)of the Act of 2009), and (
- vi)at reference number 14, by substituting “€75,000” for “£15,000” (inserted by section 2
- b)of the Act of 1991), and (
- c)in the Fifth Schedule, in column
- ii)by substituting “€75,000” for “£30,000”, (
- b)in subsection
- b)In this subsection ‘personal injuries action’ has the same meaning as it has in section 2 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 .”. Amendment of section 17 of Courts Act 1981 19. Section 17 (inserted by section 14 of the Act of 1991) of the Courts Act 1981 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- i)by substituting “Subject to subsection (3A), in any action” for “In any action”, (
- ii)by substituting “€64,000” for “£25,000”, and (iii) by substituting “€75,000” for “£30,000”, (
- b)in subsection
- i)by substituting “Subject to subsection (3A), in any action” for “In any action”, (
- ii)by substituting “€15,000” for “£5,000”, and (iii) by substituting “€38,000” for “£15,000”, (
- c)by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- a)by substituting “€15,000” for “£5,000”, and (
- b)by substituting “€30,000” for “£10,000”. Amendment of Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 21. The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 is amended— (
- a)in section 51
- b)in section 140— (
- i)in subsection
- b)not more than nine ordinary judges (each of whom shall be styled ‘Breitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach’ (‘Judge of the Supreme Court’)).”. PART 5 Juries in Lengthy Trials Amendment of Juries Act 1976 23. The Juries Act 1976 is amended— (
- a)by inserting the following section after section 15: “Additional jurors 15A.
- a)the duration of a trial is likely to exceed 2 months, and (
- b)the selection of additional jurors for the trial is an appropriate means of ensuring that there will be a sufficient number of jurors for the jury to remain properly constituted for the purposes of giving a verdict in that trial.
- a)not later than 10 working days before the selection of a jury in the trial of a criminal issue begins pursuant to section 15, and (
- b)on notice— (
- i)where the application is made by the prosecution, to each accused person in the trial, or (
- ii)where the application is made by an accused person in that trial, to the prosecution and any other accused person in the trial concerned.
- a)a juror who is selected shall retire to consider the verdict in the trial concerned, and (
- b)a juror who is not selected shall be discharged by the judge.
- a)a Minister of the Government, (
- b)the Attorney General, (
- c)the Garda Síochána, (
- d)the Defence Forces, (
- e)the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, or (
- f)an applicant within the meaning of section 60, shall charge for the copy such fee as may be prescribed.”, and (
- ii)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)a Minister of the Government, (
- b)the Attorney General, (
- c)the Garda Síochána, (
- d)the Defence Forces, (
- e)the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, or (
- f)an applicant within the meaning of section 60, shall charge for the copy such fee as may be prescribed.”, and (
- b)by inserting the following section after section 59: “Legal aid and legal advice for inquests 60.
- a)the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, in the custody of the Garda Síochána, (
- b)the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, in custody in a prison within the meaning of section 2 of the Prisons Act 2007 , (
- c)the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, in service custody within the meaning of section 2 of the Defence Act 1954 , (
- d)the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, involuntarily detained under Part 2 of the Mental Health Act 2001 in an approved centre within the meaning of section 2 of that Act, (
- e)the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, detained in a designated centre within the meaning of section 3 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 or was a person to whom section 20 of that Act refers, (
- f)the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, in custody in a remand centre within the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 2001 or detained in a children detention school within the meaning of that section, (
- g)the deceased was, at the time of his or her death or immediately before his or her death, a child in care, or (
- h)the coroner is of the opinion that the death of the deceased occurred in circumstances the continuance or possible recurrence of which would be prejudicial to the health or safety of the public or any section of the public such that there is a significant public interest in the family member of the deceased person being granted legal aid or legal advice, or both, for the purposes of the inquest concerned.
- a)a parent, grandparent, child, brother, sister, nephew, niece, uncle or aunt, whether of the whole blood, of the half blood or by affinity, of the person, (
- b)a spouse, a civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 or a cohabiting partner of the person, (
- c)any other person who is ordinarily a member of the person’s household, or (
- d)any child who has been placed in foster care with the person or any person referred to in paragraphs (
- a)to (c), and includes a reference to any such member of his or her family who is adopted; ‘legal advice’ has the same meaning as it has in the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 ; ‘legal aid’ has the same meaning as it has in the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 .”. Amendment of Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 25. The Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 is amended— (
- a)in section 1— (
- i)by substituting the following definition for the definition of “applicant”: “ ‘applicant’ means, subject to subsection (1A), a person who makes an application for legal aid or advice, or both;”, and (
- ii)by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- b)by inserting the following section after section 24: “Restriction on right to apply for legal aid and advice 24A. A person shall not be granted legal aid or advice in relation to an inquest under Part III of the Coroners Act 1962 unless a request for legal aid or advice, or both, has been made by a coroner to the Board pursuant to section 60 of that Act in respect of the person.”, (
- c)in section 26
- i)to (
- v)and (vii) of section 28
- d)in section 27— (
- i)by substituting the following for subsection
- vi)in respect of a conveyancing matter connected to a matter in which legal aid or advice has already been granted; (vii) in respect of an inquest under Part III of the Coroners Act 1962 where a request for legal aid has been made to the Board by a coroner pursuant to section 60 of that Act.”. PART 7 Bankruptcy Interpretation (Part 7) 26. In this Part “Act of 1988” means the Bankruptcy Act 1988 . Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1988 27. Section 3 of the Act of 1988 is amended— (
- a)by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “the Bankruptcy Inspector”: “ ‘Bankruptcy Inspector’ means a person standing appointed for the time being— (
- i)to the position of Bankruptcy Inspector in the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy on the day before the coming into operation of section 29 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013, or (
- ii)to the position of Bankruptcy Inspector pursuant to section 12 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 ;”, (
- b)by the insertion of the following definition: “ ‘Director’ means the Director of the Insolvency Service;”, and (
- c)by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “the Official Assignee”: “ ‘Official Assignee’ means a person standing appointed for the time being— (
- i)to the position of Official Assignee in Bankruptcy in the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy on the day before the coming into operation of section 29 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013, or (
- ii)to the position of Official Assignee pursuant to section 12 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 ;”. Amendment of section 8 of Act of 1988 28. Section 8 of the Act of 1988 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- c)of “notice in the prescribed form to the debtor” for “notice to the debtor”, and (
- b)in subsection
- a)to whom functions of the Official Assignee have been delegated under section 60B, as respects those functions, or (
- b)who is designated under section 60C, as respects those functions, for so long as the delegation or designation remains in force and is exercisable by the member of staff concerned.
- a)an Act of the Oireachtas, (
- b)a statute that was in force in Saorstát Éireann immediately before the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution and that continues in force by virtue of Article 50 of the Constitution, or (
- c)an instrument made under— (
- i)an Act of the Oireachtas, or (
- ii)a statute referred to in paragraph (b). Office of Official Assignee — Transfer of staff 60A.
- a)the person who immediately before the coming into operation of this section held the office of Official Assignee in Bankruptcy (otherwise referred to as the Official Assignee), and (
- b)every person who immediately before the coming into operation of this section was a member of the staff of the Courts Service assigned to the Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy.
- a)transfer definitively to the staff of the Insolvency Service, or (
- b)subject to subsection
- a)the person who immediately before the coming into operation of this section held the office of Official Assignee in Bankruptcy shall continue in office as Official Assignee, and (
- b)the person who immediately before the coming into operation of this section held the position of Bankruptcy Inspector shall continue to hold the position of Bankruptcy Inspector.
- a)‘public service body’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 5 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 ; (
- b)‘recognised trade union or staff association’ means a trade union or staff association recognised by the Minister for the purposes of negotiations which are concerned with the remuneration or conditions of employment, or the working conditions of employees. Delegation of functions of Official Assignee 60B.
- a)any of his functions under this Act in relation to a specific bankruptcy or arrangement matter, or (
- b)any of his functions under any other enactment.
- a)is signed by the Official Assignee, (
- b)states that any function of the Official Assignee in relation to a bankruptcy matter was on a specified date delegated to a specified member of staff of the Insolvency Service, and (
- c)states that the delegation of the function remained in force on a specified date, is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the matters stated in the certificate.
- a)is signed by the Director, (
- b)states that a specified member of staff of the Insolvency Service was designated on a specified date, in accordance with subsection
- Section 83 of the Act of 1988 is repealed. Amendment of section 84 of Act of 1988
- The Act of 1988 is amended by the substitution of the following for section 84: “Official Assignee — Unclaimed Dividend Account 84.
- a)in the Central Bank of Ireland, or (
- b)a bank authorised to carry on business in the State, and any such account shall be called the “Official Assignee — Unclaimed Dividend Account” and a reference in this section to a “relevant account” is to be construed as a reference to such an account.
- a)the manner in which the Official Assignee shall maintain a relevant account, (
- b)the purposes for which funds may be withdrawn from a relevant account pursuant to subsection
- The Act of 1988 is amended by the insertion, after section 86 but in Part IV, of the following section: “Prohibition on presentation of petition for arrangement under section 87 86A. A person shall not present a petition to the Court under section 87 after the coming into operation of section 35 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013.”. Amendment of section 144 of Act of 1988
- The Act of 1988 is amended by the substitution of the following for section 144: “Regulations and orders 144.
- a)of moneys received and spent by the Insolvency Service, including an income and expenditure account and a balance sheet, and (
- b)relating to the functions of the Official Assignee under the Bankruptcy Act 1988 or any other enactment. (2A) Accounts which are required to be maintained by the Official Assignee under the Bankruptcy Act 1988 in relation to the estates of bankrupts or in respect of unclaimed dividends shall be kept in such a manner that monies or securities or interest accrued or earned thereon in relation to the estates of bankrupts or unclaimed dividends are not intermingled with monies otherwise held by the Insolvency Service.”. Amendment of section 20 of Personal Insolvency Act 2012 40. Section 20 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 is amended— (
- a)by the substitution of the following for subsection
- a)(
- i)the performance of functions, (
- ii)the provision of services, and (iii) the carrying on of activities, by it under this Act, and (
- b)the performance of functions by the Official Assignee under the Bankruptcy Act 1988 or any other enactment.”, and (
- b)in subsection
- a)in paragraph 2, by deleting “The Office of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy,”, (
- b)in paragraph 3, by deleting “The Official Assignee in Bankruptcy,”, and (
- c)by deleting paragraph 9.
- a)in paragraph 1, by deleting subparagraph (g), and (
- b)by the insertion, after paragraph 3, of the following: “3A. An account held by the Official Assignee.”.
- In this Part, “Act of 2012” means the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 . Amendment of section 5 of Act of 2012
- Section 5 of the Act of 2012 is amended by substituting the following for subsection
- a)the debtor to whom the application relates is residing at the time of the making of the application or has resided within one year of the time of the making of the application, or (
- b)the debtor to whom the application relates has a place of business at the time of the making of the application or has had a place of business within one year of the time of the making of the application.”. Amendment of section 8 of Act of 2012 44. Section 8
- g)in accordance with section 47?— (
- i)authorise a person or class of persons to perform the functions of an approved intermediary, (
- ii)supervise and regulate persons or classes of persons authorised to perform the functions of an approved intermediary,”. Amendment of section 13 of Act of 2012 46. Section 13
- The following section is inserted after section 21 of the Act of 2012: “Retention of information by Insolvency Service 21A. Notwithstanding the Data Protection Act 1988 , the Insolvency Service shall retain such information or data obtained by it under this Act as is necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act.”. Amendment of section 25 of Act of 2012
- Section 25 of the Act of 2012 is amended, in paragraph (a)(iv) of the definition of “qualifying debt”, by deleting “such as a guarantee given by a debtor that has been called up that any amount guaranteed is due and payable by the debtor,”. Amendment of section 27 of Act of 2012
- Section 27 of the Act of 2012 is amended— (a) by substituting the following for subsection
- a)provide information that fully discloses his or her financial affairs to the approved intermediary, and (
- b)give his or her written consent to the— (
- i)making by the approved intermediary of an enquiry under subsection
- ii)disclosure by the approved intermediary of personal data of the debtor, to the extent necessary for such an enquiry.”, and (
- b)by substituting the following for subsections
- a)by substituting the following for paragraph (c): “(
- c)the Prescribed Financial Statement completed under section 27, in relation to which the statement referred to in paragraph (
- a)was made, and a statutory declaration made by the debtor confirming that the Prescribed Financial Statement is a complete and accurate statement of the debtor’s assets, liabilities, income and expenditure;”, and (
- b)in paragraph (d), by substituting “debts concerned, as specified in the Prescribed Financial Statement referred to in paragraph (c)” for “debts concerned”. Amendment of section 31 of Act of 2012 51. Section 31 of the Act of 2012 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- e)and (f)) to the appropriate court, and”, and (
- b)by deleting subsection
- e)take any step to recover goods in the possession or custody of the debtor, unless title to the goods is vested in the specified creditor or the specified creditor holds security over the goods,”. Amendment of section 36 of Act of 2012 54. Section 36 of the Act of 2012 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)the Debt Relief Notice concerned shall cease to have effect, (
- b)the specified debtor shall stand discharged from all of the specified qualifying debts, and (
- c)the Insolvency Service shall, within 3 months of the date on which paragraph (
- a)or (b), as the case may be, of subsection
- a)the Registrar of the appropriate court shall notify the Insolvency Service of the decision, and (
- b)the Insolvency Service, on receipt of the notification under paragraph (a), shall notify the specified creditors concerned of the decision.”. Amendment of section 45 of Act of 2012 58. Section 45 of the Act of 2012 is amended by inserting the following after subsection
- a)the requirements applicable to— (
- i)the authorisation of persons as approved intermediaries under this section, and (
- ii)the dealings of an approved intermediary with the Insolvency Service; (
- b)the requirements to be met in the performance of their functions under this Act by approved intermediaries including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in relation to: (
- i)the public interest; (
- ii)the duties owed to debtors and creditors who are or may become specified debtors or specified creditors; (iii) the professional and ethical conduct of approved intermediaries; (
- iv)the maintenance of the confidentiality of the information of debtors and creditors who are or may become specified debtors or specified creditors; (
- v)case management in respect of debtors who are or may become specified debtors; (
- vi)conflicts of interest; (
- c)the qualifications (including levels of training, education, expertise and experience) or any other requirements (including required standards of competence) for the authorisation of persons as approved intermediaries under this section; (
- d)the records, including files and accounts, to be maintained, including in electronic form, by an approved intermediary; (
- e)the requirements to be met by an approved intermediary when handling complaints against that approved intermediary; (
- f)any other matter relating to the authorisation, supervision or regulation of approved intermediaries which is incidental to or is considered by the Insolvency Service to be necessary or expedient for the said purposes or all or any of the matters referred to in this subsection. (5A) The Insolvency Service may do any thing which is necessary or expedient to monitor an approved intermediary’s compliance with his or her obligations under this Act and regulations made under this Act.”, and (
- b)by inserting the following after subsection
- a)dies, (
- b)becomes incapable, through ill-health or otherwise, of performing the functions of an approved intermediary as respects the debtor, (
- c)resigns from the role of approved intermediary as respects the debtor, or (
- d)is no longer entitled to perform the functions of an approved intermediary under this Act, the debtor shall, as soon as practicable after becoming aware of that fact, appoint another approved intermediary to act as his or her approved intermediary for the purposes of this Chapter.
- a)Where paragraph (a), (
- b)or (
- c)of subsection
- a)that appointment shall not affect the validity of anything previously done under this Chapter by the original approved intermediary, and (
- b)references in this Act to an approved intermediary, in relation to the debtor concerned, shall be construed as including references to the approved intermediary so appointed.”. Amendment of section 49 of Act of 2012 61. Section 49 of the Act of 2012 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)where the debtor concerned terminates the appointment of the personal insolvency practitioner as respects the debtor, such termination takes effect in accordance with section 49A, (
- b)where the personal insolvency practitioner resigns from that role as respects the debtor, such resignation takes effect in accordance with section 49B, (
- c)where the personal insolvency practitioner is replaced by reason of being no longer capable of performing, through ill-health or otherwise, or is no longer authorised to perform, the functions of a personal insolvency practitioner as respects the debtor, such replacement takes effect in accordance with section 49C.”, and (
- c)by the deletion of subsections
- a)that appointment shall not affect the validity of anything previously done under this Chapter, Chapter 3 or Chapter 4, as the case may be, by the original personal insolvency practitioner, (
- b)a protective certificate, Debt Settlement Arrangement or a Personal Insolvency Arrangement that is in effect as regards the debtor shall continue to have effect, and (
- c)references in this Act to a personal insolvency practitioner, in relation to the debtor concerned, shall be construed as including references to the replacement personal insolvency practitioner so appointed. Termination by a personal insolvency practitioner of his or her appointment by a debtor 49B.
- a)that appointment shall not affect the validity of anything previously done under this Chapter, Chapter 3 or Chapter 4, as the case may be, by the original personal insolvency practitioner, (
- b)a protective certificate, Debt Settlement Arrangement or a Personal Insolvency Arrangement that is in effect as regards the debtor shall continue to have effect, and (
- c)references in this Act to a personal insolvency practitioner, in relation to the debtor concerned, shall be construed as including references to the replacement personal insolvency practitioner so appointed. Termination of appointment of a personal insolvency practitioner due to death, incapacity or withdrawal of authorisation 49C.
- a)dies, (
- b)becomes incapable, through ill-health or otherwise, of performing the functions of a personal insolvency practitioner, or (
- c)is no longer authorised to perform the functions of a personal insolvency practitioner under this Act, the debtor shall, as soon as practicable after becoming aware of that fact, or of being informed of such by the Insolvency Service, and in any event no later than three months thereafter, appoint a replacement personal insolvency practitioner (in this section referred to as a ‘replacement personal insolvency practitioner’) to act as his or her personal insolvency practitioner for the purposes of Chapter 3 or 4, as the case may be.
- a)that appointment shall not affect the validity of anything previously done under this Chapter, Chapter 3 or Chapter 4, as the case may be, by the original personal insolvency practitioner, (
- b)a protective certificate, Debt Settlement Arrangement or a Personal Insolvency Arrangement that is in effect as regards the debtor shall continue to have effect, and (
- c)references in this Act to a personal insolvency practitioner, in relation to the debtor concerned, shall be construed as including references to the replacement personal insolvency practitioner so appointed.”. Amendment of section 54 of Act of 2012 63. Section 54 of the Act of 2012 is amended in paragraph (
- c)by substituting “Prescribed” for “Personal”. Amendment of section 59 of Act of 2012 64. Section 59
- f)and (g)) to the appropriate court, and”, (
- b)by deleting subsection
- i)the name and address of the debtor and the date of issue of the protective certificate, (
- ii)where applicable— (I) the extension under this section of the protective certificate, and (II) the making by the appropriate court of an order under section 63, and the creditor in respect of whom the order has been made, and (iii) the date on which the protective certificate ceases, under this Chapter, to be in force, and (
- b)within 3 months of the date on which the protective certificate ceases, under this Chapter, to be in force, remove from the Register of Protective Certificates all information recorded in it in respect of the protective certificate.”. Amendment of section 62 of Act of 2012 66. Section 62
- c)of the Act of 2012 is amended by substituting the following for subparagraph (iv): “(
- iv)he or she is of the opinion that— (I) the debtor satisfies the eligibility criteria for the proposal of a Debt Settlement Arrangement specified in section 57, (II) the proposed Debt Settlement Arrangement complies with the mandatory requirements referred to in section 65
- b)a copy of the approved Debt Settlement Arrangement, and (
- c)a statement by the personal insolvency practitioner to the effect that he or she is of the opinion that— (
- i)the debtor satisfies the eligibility criteria for the proposal of a Debt Settlement Arrangement specified in section 57, (
- ii)the approved Debt Settlement Arrangement complies with the mandatory requirements referred to in section 65
- a)notify the appropriate court and furnish to that court a copy of the notification and documents, and (
- b)record the approval of the Debt Settlement Arrangement concerned in the Register of Debt Settlement Arrangements.”. Amendment of section 78 of Act of 2012 73. Section 78 of the Act of 2012 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)further information, it may request the Insolvency Service to provide this information, and the Insolvency Service shall provide the information requested to the court and to the personal insolvency practitioner concerned, or (
- b)further information or evidence, it may hold a hearing, which hearing shall be on notice to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned.”, (
- c)by deleting subsection
- a)it appears to the personal insolvency practitioner that there has been a material change in the debtor’s circumstances, and (
- b)the personal insolvency practitioner is satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect that a variation that addresses such circumstances would be approved in accordance with this section.
- a)in writing, (
- b)accompanied by information or evidence to support the assertion that there has been a material change in the debtor’s circumstances, and (
- c)accompanied by the written consent of the person making the request to the— (
- i)making by the personal insolvency practitioner of an enquiry under subsection
- a)and (
- b)of subsection
- a)may request any further information he or she requires from the person who made the request, and (
- b)may make such enquiries as he or she considers necessary in order to arrive at his or her decision.
- a)and (
- b)of subsection
- b)formulate a proposal for a variation, (
- c)seek the written consent of the debtor to the proposal and to the calling of a meeting of the creditors of the debtor for the purpose of considering the proposal, and (
- d)where the consent of the debtor referred to in paragraph (
- c)has been given, arrange for the holding of the meeting referred to in that paragraph.
- a)give each creditor at least 14 days written notice of the meeting and the date on which, and the time and place at which, the meeting will be held; (
- b)ensure that the notice referred to in paragraph (
- a)is accompanied by— (
- i)a written proposal for the variation of the Debt Settlement Arrangement, (
- ii)a report of the personal insolvency practitioner— (I) describing the outcome for the creditors and for the debtor under the terms of the proposal, and (II) indicating whether or not he or she is of the opinion that the debtor is reasonably likely to be able to comply with the terms of the Debt Settlement Arrangement as varied in accordance with the proposal, (iii) the Prescribed Financial Statement completed by the debtor under subsection
- iv)such other information obtained by the personal insolvency practitioner under this section as he or she considers relevant; (
- c)lodge a copy of the notice referred to in paragraph (
- a)and the documents referred to in paragraph (
- b)with the Insolvency Service.
- a)(as amended by section 73 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013)) and section 87 shall apply in relation to a variation of a Debt Settlement Arrangement under this section, subject to the following modifications and any other necessary modifications— (
- a)a reference to a Debt Settlement Arrangement shall be construed as a reference to a Debt Settlement Arrangement as varied in accordance with this Chapter, (
- b)a reference to a proposal for a Debt Settlement Arrangement shall be construed as a reference to a proposal for the variation of a Debt Settlement Arrangement, and a reference to a proposed Debt Settlement Arrangement shall be construed as a reference to a proposed variation of a Debt Settlement Arrangement, (
- c)a reference to a Prescribed Financial Statement shall be construed as a reference to the Prescribed Financial Statement completed by the debtor under subsection
- f)a reference to a creditors’ meeting shall be construed as a reference to a creditors’ meeting called under this section, and (
- g)an adjournment pursuant to section 72
- a)on the taking of a vote at a creditors’ meeting under this section, the proposal is not approved in accordance with section 73, or (
- b)the appropriate court upholds the objection of a creditor to the variation of a Debt Settlement Arrangement coming into effect, the Debt Settlement Arrangement concerned shall, without prejudice to the other provisions of this Act, continue in effect without being subject to such variation.
- a)where there has been an increase in the debtor’s income, to make additional payments in excess of 50 per cent of the increase in his or her income available to him or her after the following deductions (where applicable) are made: (
- i)income tax; (
- ii)social insurance contributions; (iii) payments made by him or her in respect of excluded debts; (
- iv)payments made by him or her in respect of excludable debts that are not permitted debts; (
- v)such other levies and charges on income as may be prescribed, or (
- b)to make a payment amounting to more than 50 per cent of the value of any property acquired by the debtor after the coming into effect of the Debt Settlement Arrangement that is proposed to be varied, unless receipt of that property had been anticipated by the terms of that Arrangement.
- a)the Registrar of the appropriate court shall notify the Insolvency Service of the decision, and (
- b)the Insolvency Service, on receipt of the notification under paragraph (a), shall notify the personal insolvency practitioner and the specified creditors concerned of the decision.
- a)record the successful completion of the Debt Settlement Arrangement in the Register of Debt Settlement Arrangements, and (
- b)within 3 months of such receipt, remove from the Register of Debt Settlement Arrangements all information recorded in it in respect of the Debt Settlement Arrangement.”. Amendment of section 91 of Act of 2012 79. Section 91
- a)by substituting “accompanied by such fee (if any) as may be prescribed and the following documents:” for “accompanied by the following documents:”, (
- b)in paragraph (c), by substituting “section 91
- c)by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (c): “(
- cc)the declaration in writing of the debtor referred to in section 91
- f)and (g)) to the appropriate court, and”, (
- b)by deleting subsection
- i)the name and address of the debtor and the date of issue of the protective certificate, (
- ii)where applicable— (I) the extension under this section of the protective certificate, and (II) the making by the appropriate court of an order under section 97, and the creditor in respect of whom the order has been made, and (iii) the date on which the protective certificate ceases, under this Chapter, to be in force, and (
- b)within 3 months of the date on which the protective certificate ceases, under this Chapter, to be in force, remove from the Register of Protective Certificates all information recorded in it in respect of the protective certificate.”. Amendment of section 96 of Act of 2012 82. Section 96
- c)of the Act of 2012 is amended by substituting the following for subparagraph (iv): “(
- iv)he or she is of the opinion that— (I) the debtor satisfies the eligibility criteria for the proposal of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement specified in section 91, (II) the proposed Personal Insolvency Arrangement complies with the mandatory requirements referred to in section 99
- b)a copy of the approved Personal Insolvency Arrangement, and (
- c)a statement by the personal insolvency practitioner to the effect that he or she is of the opinion that— (
- i)the debtor satisfies the eligibility criteria for the proposal of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement specified in section 91, (
- ii)the approved Personal Insolvency Arrangement complies with the mandatory requirements referred to in section 99
- a)notify the appropriate court and furnish to that court a copy of the notification and documents, and (
- b)record the approval of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement concerned in the Register of Personal Insolvency Arrangements.”. Amendment of section 115 of Act of 2012 87. Section 115 of the Act of 2012 is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)further information, it may request the Insolvency Service to provide this information, and the Insolvency Service shall provide the information requested to the court and to the personal insolvency practitioner concerned, or (
- b)further information or evidence, it may hold a hearing, which hearing shall be on notice to the Insolvency Service and the personal insolvency practitioner concerned.”, (
- c)by deleting subsection
- a)it appears to the personal insolvency practitioner that there has been a material change in the debtor’s circumstances, and (
- b)the personal insolvency practitioner is satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect that a variation that addresses such circumstances would be approved in accordance with this section.
- a)in writing, (
- b)accompanied by information or evidence to support the assertion that there has been a material change in the debtor’s circumstances, and (
- c)accompanied by the written consent of the person making the request to the— (
- i)making by the personal insolvency practitioner of an enquiry under subsection
- a)and (
- b)of subsection
- a)may request any further information he or she requires from the person who made the request, and (
- b)may make such enquiries as he or she considers necessary in order to arrive at his or her decision.
- a)and (
- b)of subsection
- b)formulate a proposal for a variation, (
- c)seek the written consent of the debtor to the proposal and to the calling of a meeting of the creditors of the debtor for the purpose of considering the proposal, and (
- d)where the consent of the debtor referred to in paragraph (
- c)has been given, arrange for the holding of the meeting referred to in that paragraph.
- a)give each creditor at least 14 days written notice of the meeting and the date on which, and the time and place at which, the meeting will be held; (
- b)ensure that the notice referred to in paragraph (
- a)is accompanied by— (
- i)a written proposal for the variation of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement, (
- ii)a report of the personal insolvency practitioner— (I) describing the outcome for the creditors and for the debtor under the terms of the proposal, and (II) indicating whether or not he or she is of the opinion that the debtor is reasonably likely to be able to comply with the terms of the Personal Insolvency Arrangement as varied in accordance with the proposal, (iii) the Prescribed Financial Statement completed by the debtor under subsection
- iv)such other information obtained by the personal insolvency practitioner under this section as he or she considers relevant; and (
- c)lodge a copy of the notice referred to in paragraph (
- a)and the documents referred to in paragraph (
- b)with the Insolvency Service.
- a)(as amended by section 87 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013)) and section 120 shall apply in relation to a variation of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement under this section, subject to the following modifications and any other necessary modifications— (
- a)a reference to a Personal Insolvency Arrangement shall be construed as a reference to a Personal Insolvency Arrangement as varied in accordance with this Chapter, (
- b)a reference to a proposal for a Personal Insolvency Arrangement shall be construed as a reference to a proposal for the variation of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, and a reference to a proposed Personal Insolvency Arrangement shall be construed as a reference to a proposed variation of a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, (
- c)a reference to a Prescribed Financial Statement shall be construed as a reference to the Prescribed Financial Statement completed by the debtor under subsection
- i)a reference to the market value attributed to security, or the market value of security determined, in accordance with section 105 shall be construed as the value attributed or determined in accordance with section 105 for the purpose of a variation under this section, (
- j)a reference to a creditors’ meeting shall be construed as a reference to a creditors’ meeting under this section, (
- k)where section 108