John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Amendment No. 1 is a technical drafting amendment to allow certain sections of the Bill to come into force when it is enacted and assist the commencement process. These are sections Nos. 60 to 64, inclusive, of the Bill as amended by the Seanad. Other provisions of the Bill will come into operation at different times by ministerial order.

I will outline the four sections referred to in amendment No. 1. Section 60 provides for the transfer of ministerial responsibility for the local government superannuation scheme in the health sector from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the Minister for Health and Children. Section 61 is a new section included in the Bill during its passage through the Seanad and is provided for in amendment No. 2.

Section 62 amends the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act 1997 to remove age limits for travel insurance benefit provided in accordance with that Act. Section 63 provides for an amendment to the Mental Health Act 2001 to address difficulties in the operation of the Act which have arisen following a recent High Court judgment. Section 64 makes technical drafting amendments to the Health Act 2007.

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