Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

It is important for the Senator to know that under this legislation, the Attorney General, the legal adviser to the Government, and the Human Rights Commission must be given notice of proceedings in accordance with the rules of court that will have to be made following the enactment of this Bill. Upon enactment, the rules of court, which are statutory instruments adopted under the courts and justice legislation, will have to have specific provision to regulate the operation of this legislation. The Attorney General has the right to appear at and to become a party to proceedings.

As the Senator pointed out, certain obligations regarding the laying of copies of the declaration before both Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days are placed on the Taoiseach under section 5(3) of the Bill, when a declaration is made. The inclusion in the Bill of a provision along the lines of this amendment would involve a level of detail not required in a Bill. I will undertake to bring the Senator's views on this matter to the attention of the rules committee so that an appropriate provision can be made in the rules of court, if it is deemed necessary to do so.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.