Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

My officials and I do not draft Bills – that is done by other experts – but the intention is as I have outlined it. I agree that the way the section is set out may be confusing, but Members should be careful in their reading of the indented subsections. Senator Mansergh and I discussed many years ago the simplification of the drafting of Bills, which is something Senator McDowell also proposed. Senator McDowell is probably aware that this process was attempted in the United Kingdom, but fell on its face. I engaged in deliberations to establish a pilot project, but the UK experience was off-putting. Efforts in Australia have been somewhat more successful, but they have not succeeded here.

The section in question goes to the kernel of the Bill and I am not in a position to accept the amendment. Senator O'Meara asked if amendments would be accepted, to which I respond by saying that there will be no substantial changes to the Bill. That is not to say there will be no tweaking in the context of contributions by Members on Committee and Report Stages. If people put forward reasonable suggestions, I am willing to consider them, but the substance of the Bill will not be changed.