Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 3, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:

"'relevant authority' means the person designated in the relevant country concerned who performs functions the same as or similar to those performed by the Minister under this Act;".

We discussed this matter on Committee Stage. It relates to discussions we have had already about the ease with which a lay person can understand legislation. The concept of relevant authority is central to the Bill and it should be clarified and defined at the outset. I have transposed these words from section 5 as I consider them to be more appropriate to the definition section. In dismissing this amendment on Committee State, the Minister did not satisfactorily explain why this definition does not add to the clarity of the Bill. The Bill should be understandable to lay people from start to finish.

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