Derek McDowell (Labour)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 12, subsection (1), line 28, after "practicable" to insert "and, in any event, within 14 days".

Section 13(1) says that as soon as practicable after receipt of the application the board serves a notice on the respondent. We want to put in a time limit of 14 days. As the Tánaiste rightly points out, the whole purpose of the Bill is to speed up the process of dealing with claims. It should be possible to put in time limits at the start of the process, with which there would no difficulty in dealing. The first amendment to this section in the name of the Labour Senators seeks to insert a requirement that notice should be served by the board on the respondent within 14 days.