Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

We are responding to two Supreme Court judgments and updating the legislation.

As I stated on Committee Stage, I cannot accept Deputy Costello's proposal that regulations which make provision for indictable offences should cease to have effect after three months unless confirmed by an Act of the Oireachtas. This arrangement would be completely unworkable, as it would be a retrograde step, which would seriously and unnecessarily delay the implementation of European Community law in this State. It would leave us open to the damaging accusation of failing to live up to our EU obligations.

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