Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will give you the advice that I received. Amendments Nos. 2, 5, 8 and 27 form a composite proposal to retain public ownership of and association with the energy company. The purpose of the Bill is to provide for the disposal of the Bord Gáis Éireann energy business and for the reorganisation of the ownership of Bord Gáis Éireann. Therefore, these amendments are in conflict with the principle of the Bill as read on Second Stage and must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 131(1), which states that it shall be an instruction to all committees to which bills may be committed that they have the power to make such amendments therein as they shall think fit, provided that such amendments be relevant to the provisions of the Bill and are not in conflict with the principle of the Bill as read a second time. Effectively, the advice is that your amendments are in conflict with the Bill as read.