Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)

I am somewhat disappointed at this aspect. I accept that the Minister widened the ambit of registration but this amendment was important to exclude any doubt or ambiguity regarding stillbirths. The Minister's assurance that the thrust of what we are trying to achieve in the context of this amendment is already contained within the Bill or cannot be excluded by its terms is important. Despite attempts to ensure inclusiveness in legislation, it is very often interpreted in an exclusionary mode. I hope antArd-Chláraitheoir, the superintendent and everybody else in a position to interpret the Bill where there is a great degree of sensitivity involved, will do so from the point of view of ensuring that the maximum amount of information is registered and that such interpretation will be inclusive rather technical and literal thereby excluding matters that are not set out in a fully comprehensive way in the legislation. I assume that what the Minister said will obtain and, on the basis of that assurance, I will withdraw the amendment.

See this speech in context