The Education Minister Ruairi Quinn says all of the debt reduction guidelines under new insolvency legislation will have to be considered on a case by case basis.

He was responding to questions about comments by Transport Minster Leo Varadkar. He said some working women will have to choose between their careers and paying the mortgage if they enter the insolvency regime.

"If you can't pay your mortgage as a result, or buy your groceries as a result (of childcare), then that is something that needs to be taken into account in any insolvency arrangement" he told the Irish Examiner.

"Nobody is asking anybody to give up their jobs. What is going to happen is that people are going to come forward, they are going to say ‘I can't pay my debts, I can't pay my mortgage’, and in that case, the insolvency practitioner will go through with them why they can't pay their bills, and obviously a creditor is not going to agree to a writedown unless that has been gone through and they can work out what is the most they can pay" he added.

Taoiseach dismisses suggestion

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he would find it "quite incredible" that anyone would be forced to give up work and stay at home as part of an insolvency settlement.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Meath-East on Monday Mr. Kenny said he would not agree with such a measure.

"This is a country where the government is unashamedly focused on making arrangements for an atmosphere and an environment where jobs can be created" he said. "People have a right to work, people have a right to earn money to raise their families in the best way possible".

"I would find it quite incredible that somebody would say (that) you are required to give up work in order to meet these charges" he added.

The guidelines from the Insolvency Service of Ireland are due to be published after Easter.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn told Breakfast here on Newstalk Minister Varadkar was referring to specific situations he has come across when he spoke to the paper and no two cases will be the same.