Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I welcome the amendment for which I thank the Minister of State and compliment him on the thinking behind it. On a number of occasions Senators on this side of the House have complained about similar sections having the effect that a Bill is enacted which then takes several months to come into operation. I look forward to early enactment of the Bill.

Amendment agreed to.

Section 1, as amended, agreed to.

Sections 2 and 3 agreed to.

SECTION 4.

Government amendment No. 2:

In page 7, after line 48, to insert the following new subsection:

"(6) The licensing authority shall cause to be published by electronic means capable of being read in legible form–

(a) all applications received for sea-fishing boat licences on or after 1 January 2003, and