Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 5, to delete lines 9 to 11 and substitute the following:

"(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable upon conviction on indictment—

(a) to imprisonment for life or a lesser term, and

(b) at the discretion of the court, to a fine.".

My amendments Nos. 5, 8 to 10, inclusive, and 16 are in response to an amendment proposed by Deputy Rabbitte on Committee Stage. I mentioned then that there were two ways of expressing in legislation a conviction on indictment which attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. I considered the wording then proposed by the Deputy as superior and I thank him for drawing my attention to this point. To effect the Deputy's intention requires five amendments, namely, amendments Nos. 5, 8 to 10, inclusive, and 16.

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