Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The amendments in group one are amendments Nos. 1 to 5, which were made in the Dáil and are now submitted to the Seanad where the Bill was initiated. Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, are technical in character but amendments Nos. 1 and 2 relate to the commencement provisions.

The one point I wish to make on amendments Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, is that the Minister has endeavoured to ensure that as many provisions of the Bill as possible will commence on the enactment of this legislation. Many of the provisions will take immediate effect.

Senators will note that two amendments of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act to Chapter 1 of Part 3, dealing with funds of suitors, section 49, providing for centralised issuing of summonses and their issuing by electronic means, and section 56, increasing the number of judges, will commence as and from enactment of this legislation.