Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for kindly joining us. I apologise for being in and out which meant I did not hear them read their statements into the record but I read them all beforehand. As a non-legal person, I was struck by one thing. Professor Butler can correct me if I am wrong in this. He seems to be saying the Bill is at risk of legal action if we include even trade in goods. He is also saying that we are at risk of legal action if we do not include services. Professors Koutrakos and Tridimas are saying that we are at no real risk of legal action for including trade and services. We are trying to deal with several different opinions. I am not trying to open a debate by any means. Professor Butler's opinion is possibly the most contrarian I have heard to date and therefore I will focus my questioning on him.

Because I have been in and out, if any of my colleagues have asked questions that I have missed, I do not want to waste the witnesses' time. I ask them to indicate that and I will pick up the answer from the recording later.

Does Professor Butler think the Bill is enforceable given his comments on the free circulation of goods in the European Union?