Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate the Deputy tabling this amendment and understand the motives behind it, but I am not inclined to accept it because of the relatively broad nature of the legislation and the fact that it is, in effect, a very substantial updating of our laws in regard to conveyancing. It is probably unlikely that there would be adequate experience over a five-year period to warrant a full review of every section in the legislation. Therefore, I propose an alternative amendment.

In amendment No. 1 to section 5, I propose, following consultation with Attorney General, a provision which will permit the Minister, during a five-year period following commencement of the Act, to deal with any difficulties which may arise either in the bringing into operation or in giving effect to a provision. Such regulations will be made with a view to removing that difficulty.

Those regulations would be on the basis that it would be required that a draft of the regulations would be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in advance and that both Houses would approve the draft by means of a resolution. I believe that will take care of what Deputy Charles Flanagan is trying to achieve.

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