Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I will consider whether seven days is too draconian. However, the section in its entirety is not draconian because it states that "7 days after the service of the pleading concerned or such longer period as the court may direct or the parties may agree". There is a good deal of flexibility there. Legal people usually are reasonable with each other. They do not want to go to court and get a direction. They will concede that it may be submitted later. If seven days is considered too short, however, I will have a look at it between now and Report Stage.