Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

When we discussed this issue, I expressed sympathy with the effort by Deputies to take into the legislation power to vary by means of secondary legislation. They said it would be simpler and more straightforward. While it would be, we went back to the Office of the Attorney General and the legal advice is that it still remains the safer option to deal with it in primary legislation. I therefore ask the Deputy to withdraw the amendment. That is the strong advice I have received from the Attorney General's office.

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