James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept the Minister of State's rationale and bona fides, but I have a couple of observations to make. The fact that something might impact on EU directives or regulations is not really a sufficient or good reason for us not to do it because our job, as legislators, is to scrutinise, challenge and produce the best case possible. Sometimes we can lead the European Union and do not have to accept its lead. The Minister of State has said there is work under way within his Department and others to analyse the position and perhaps come back with a better way of doing things. I am absolutely open to that approach and look forward to hearing the response. I am a little confused about the timelines because I have heard two dates being mentioned - October and before the recess. The Minister of State has mentioned that this has to be done by late October, but we are also hearing that there is a rush to get the legislation through before the recess. Perhaps the position might be clarified. It is an important objective and the amendment would do something important which we still need to do. However, if there is another way to do it, on which either the Minister of State's Department or another Department could come back to us, I look forward to engaging on it. I ask the Minister of State's Department or the relevant Department to engage with me and Deputy Maurice Quinlivan, perhaps even offline, and we can work something out.