Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

With some degree of reluctance, I must oppose this section and suggest its deletion. My reluctance stems from the fact that it is not obvious to me exactly what is wrong with it. However, I am told there are technical legal reasons that fault it. When I saw it, I drew up my own proposed amendments which were incorporated in manuscript. I am not quite clear why it is so bad in its present form. However, to please the powers that be, I have agreed to propose the deletion of this section, even as amended by me. I will not make a song and dance about it, except to say that the office of the Attorney General and the parliamentary draftsmen are unhappy with Deputy Rabbitte's drafting, as amended by me. In view of the short time available for the consideration of the Bill, they asked that I agree to its deletion. To get it through, I said that I would agree.

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