Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

We can table amendments for discussion purposes. However, since the text must be endorsed across the member states, if we were to vary it here, it would have to go back again. There are only three sections in the Bill, one of which is the Long Title; therefore, what we are really talking about are the Schedules and Appendices which are standard across Europe, which means all other Parliaments will be amending them also. We are not in a position to accept amendments because we are committed to doing this in September and certainly not going back a second time, but we can discuss any issues involved.

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