Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Perhaps the word "precedent" should be struck from the record.

I refer Deputy Kenny to the statement made by Government at the time on these matters. It involved a commitment to work to see if we could bring forward a provision under the Competition Act that would be consistent with EU law. That is where the issue must begin and that was in the public statement. The organisation concerned would be well aware of the nature of the commitment and the bona fides of Government to work in that respect. However, legislation must be consistent with EU law and therefore the question of its publication can only arise when that issue has been resolved and dealt with after further discussion. On the basis of the implementation of these arrangements, a statutory basis is being sought in the context of publication of the Bill and its enactment before the end of this term.

With regard to other organisations, the commitment relates to the IMO, based on legal advice. One cannot assume, because of the nature of the activities of other professional organisations, that they come under the same umbrella. It is not necessarily the case.

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