Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

So far, in this debate, the amendment was pressed in terms of the effect on the respondent. In dealing with that, I mentioned that the order would lapse but, of course, the order can be confirmed and I wish to emphasise that. Therefore, from the perspective of the respondent, once he or she is in court, he or she is in a position to meet. If the respondent wishes to have an adjournment – I will return to the Senator's point in a moment – that is clearly a factor which the judge will have to examine in the context of a confirmation application by the applicant. However, the Senator has now canvassed a different contingency entirely, namely the impact on the applicant of the fact that the order automatically lapses. That, of course, is the kernel of the legislation.