Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

Clearly the Minister adopted the same approach in the Dáil as in the Seanad which was to take on board as much as possible the concerns of Opposition Members. While a number of the amendments are technical, they are significant. On the issue of the rules of court we had extensive discussion on Committee and Report Stages on how they would operate. The Minister takes a particular view of that being a practitioner. I stated that the Minister, being a practitioner, would know how the rules of court apply and so on.

I welcome the amendment related to the lodgement of pleadings in the relevant courts which is designed to make it less expensive. There was a passing reference to that here. It appears that the register to which the Minister of State has referred is a useful one. Given that this is the era of information, the availability of the register on the Internet is useful. Much legal information, settlements, wills and so on are published in the newspapers. The Revenue Commissioners publish a much greater amount of information than in the past. How will that work in practice? Given that the Bill was discussed at a late hour in the other House, I did not have a chance to read the entire debate but I accept the Minister's bona fides on amendment No. 37, that the register should be made available to such persons who have established to the satisfaction of the Courts Service a sufficient interest in seeking access to it. I hope that will work out in practice. The amendments in the group are largely positive and substantial.