Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This is what we are considering tonight in respect of that part of the legislation. In respect of subsequent statutory instruments that require EU state-aid rules approval from the Commission and must be brought before the House, there will of course be an opportunity to discuss that detail in that context at that time. The problem at present is that we need to give a proper statutory basis in primary legislation to enable this to happen and that is all that is happening this evening.

It would never be a view of mine that Deputy Bruton would run unsighted - to use coursing parlance - but a short slip in this case would be more appropriate.

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