Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Seanad amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, are technical amendments proposed by the Parliamentary Counsel consequential to the splitting of the Bill into three parts on Report Stage in the Dáil.

Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 delete the definition of "commission" from section 3 in Part 2 and insert it in section 2 of Part 1. As the term "commission" occurs in both Parts 1 and 2, its inclusion in section 2 of Part 1 is correct, as the section applies to the whole Bill.

Seanad amendment No. 3 deletes section 4(2), which refers to section 22. Section 4 provides for an appointed day for the coming into effect of Part 2, which deals with the regulation of premium rate services. This is necessary to give ComReg time to put in place the necessary licensing regulations and a code of practice as part of assuming the function of regulating the sector. Section 22 is now in Part 3, which will come into effect on the signing of the Bill into law.

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