Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I am grateful to Deputies Higgins and Lynch for drawing attention on Committee Stage to the possibility of a loophole involving passports which have expired prior to the commencement of the Act. I undertook on Committee Stage to consider the matter further and to revert to the House on it. My officials have since consulted the Office of the Director for Public Prosecutions and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on how best to close the loophole.

Government amendments to this effect are proposed in respect of sections 18, 20 and 21. These amendments are similar to the approach taken in amendment No. 3 and, if adopted, will ensure there is power to prosecute offences involving passports that expired prior to the commencement of the Act. The Office of Parliamentary Counsel has advised that it would be desirable to locate the amendments in the relevant sections later in the Bill rather than in section 2. Accordingly, I ask Deputy Lynch to withdraw her amendment and to agree to the Government amendments.

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