Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

On Committee Stage we discussed the question of including the words "or affirmation" after "oath" in the relevant parts of the new section 88 dealing with the EPA oral hearings. The advice to me at the time from the Attorney General's office was that this was not necessary as a reference to an oath includes an affirmation, and that remains legally the case. However, in the light of comments made by Senators on Committee Stage, and in keeping with my approach of trying to encompass as many views as possible in the legislation, and precedents already established in this regard and in other legislation, I propose that we formally provide for affirmation in the Bill, something on which Senator O'Meara was keen.