Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

The Senator said that one person's annoyance would not be another's. However, one person's serious annoyance could be interpreted differently as well. The Minister is not prepared to accept the amendment. The District Court will operate on the basis of common sense. If something is trivial, the court would not make an order. If something is serious, the question would be what was meant by the term "serious" and there would be lawyers' arguments in court as to its meaning. It is preferable to leave it to the common sense of the District Court on the basis that it would not make orders for trifling reasons and that gardaí would not apply for such orders. Accordingly, it can be safely assumed that, relying on the common sense of the Garda Síochána and the courts, the term "serious" is already implicit.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.