Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I obviously did not make myself clear. What I am trying to say is there is no need for additional words. It is already provided for in the 1988 by-laws and there is no intention to change them. There is also a 90-day consultation period under the by-laws when there would be an opportunity to make submissions on them. It is not necessary to qualify the section further. It would be superfluous to insert extra words. We cannot permanently close canals without North-South agreement. That gets over the hurdle mentioned by the Deputy and the risk that somebody else would try to do it. We are adding canal stock in Ulster.

I am not sure what else I can say on amendment No. 4. I have laid out the reasons I do not think it would be a good idea to accept the Deputy's amendment. It would be overly restrictive and we are in the business of keeping navigations open. I cannot accept the amendment.