Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I move amendment No. 48:

In page 41, to delete lines 27 and 28 and substitute the following:

"(3) The register may be established and maintained in paper or electronic form.".

On Committee Stage Deputy Twomey raised the matter of the meaning of section 43(3) and I undertook to consult with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Accordingly, I propose an amendment which I hope clarifies the matter sufficiently for the Deputy. According to legal advice there must be one definitive version of the register, whether in paper or in electronic format. The alternative format can only be a reproduction of the register at any particular time. That is the reason the phrase "in paper or electronic form or both" is not used in this provision.

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