Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 4, line 13, to delete "inserted" and substitute "as substituted".

These are basically drafting amendments. I know the Minister of State, if given some leeway, would be eager to accept them in some form. Our job is to tighten up the Bill, which is an important one, providing for the transfer of shares held by Shannon Free Airport Development Company to Enterprise Ireland and to amend the Industrial Development Acts of 1986 and 1993. My party has been very supportive of the Bill, as have all parties in the House. In that context, I want to ensure there are no technical omissions or deficiencies in the Bill and to strengthen it, where possible, given its importance and its place, going back to SFADCo, in the regional development of the country, which has worked well.

I can anticipate that the Minister of State will have received legal advice from a higher quarter than myself to indicate that the amendments are not necessary and unwarranted in the circumstances. In that event, I do not have the pretensions to be a parliamentary draftsperson. However, I have a motive for bringing forward the amendments, which I believe are parallel with provisions in similar legislation in which I have been involved. I ask the Minister of State to consider the amendments, although I anticipate I will get a short rebuff.

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