Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I appreciate the intention behind the amendment but I cannot accept it. The Parliamentary Counsel advises that while a collective citation and construction section could be included in the Bill, the recommendation was that it should not be because it could give rise to conflicts in interpretation between definitions in this Bill and those under previous Acts. This Bill effectively supersedes all earlier legislation relating to the Garda Síochána and a provision of this type would lead to confusion.