Michael McCarthy (Labour)

If this amendment is not accepted, the interpretation of section 13(1)(b) begins and ends with "the State". The Minister accepted a similar amendment in the Lower House and it basically renders the Government amendment redundant and nonsensical and will lead to bad law. It is the literal interpretation of section 13(1)(b) that is at issue. It is not so much the mechanics of the implications of section 13(1)(b), but the literal interpretation that will lead to bad law as it stands.