Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, to delete lines 31 to 33 and substitute the following:

"(5) The Health Acts 1947 to 2005 and Part 5 may be cited together as the Health Acts 1947 to 2006 and shall be construed together as one.".

I thank the Labour Party for its amendment. I appreciate the intention of the amendment. However, I am advised by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel that it is not necessary to include a reference to the Health (Amendment) Act 2004, the Health Act 2004 and the Health (Amendment) Act 2005 in the citation. The Health (Amendment) Act 2004 was repealed in its entirety by the Health (Amendment) Act 2005. Therefore, I cannot accept the Labour Party amendment. A technical amendment is being proposed in regard to section 1(5) in respect of the citation of the health Acts. It was originally envisaged that this Bill would be enacted in 2005. The citation in regard to the health Acts was worded in such a way as to take account of the fact that the Health (Amendment) Act was also enacted in 2005. Because the Bill will be enacted in 2006 I am advised by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel that the wording as it stands needs to be amended to take account of this. In addition the revised wording would ensure the citation is consistent with the other citations in the Bill.

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