Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Yes, I will comment. The formula of words used in the subsection was chosen because it introduces a fundamental concept employed throughout the Bill, namely, that of a direction. If we had defined the term "direction" we would have been obliged to have a separate definition or interpretation section in the Bill which would have contained the phrase "In this Bill, 'direction' shall mean". Given the short nature of the Bill, it was decided to incorporate or introduce the concept of a direction at an early stage rather than having a definition section.

I agree with the Senator that the sentence in question would be more concise if her amendment was accepted. However, to accept the amendment would cause problems elsewhere in the text of the Bill by upsetting a basic premise on which the other subsections are constructed, namely, that the term "direction" has been defined at the outset and is then referred to throughout the Bill.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.