Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I am glad of the source of the accusation. I would be quite prepared to accept, provided the enabling provision was there, that the detail is probably something that would be better spelled out in regulation. This is all the more reason to start, as was rightly pointed out by the Minister, with certain basic things on a register, subject to the development of the appropriate technology. One would not start with all the details in amendment No. 66 because it would take quite some time before one developed the technology to include any of those.

This is the right way forward. I cannot bring it any further at this stage. I hope I have convinced everybody that this is the way forward from the point of view of a register and guidelines. Without any great hope that the Minister will do anything about it in the short time left to him in office, I can only say this should be put on the Statute Book at an early date and I hope, with others, to be in a position to ensure this is done.

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