Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I understand the purpose of the amendments is to insert references to the published opinions of the European Parliament. For ease of reference, we have gone to the trouble of scheduling the full text of the framework decisions in both the Irish and English languages in Schedule 1 to the Bill.

On amendment No. 3, the reference to the framework decision which is made in the Bill is included in section 4 for the purpose of definition to ensure that it is correctly identified as it is referred to in some of the provisions of the Bill. I thank the Senator for the thought behind the amendment but really do not recognise the value of referring to the opinion of the European Parliament because it does not assist in identifying the framework decision to which effect is being given. We would complicate law greatly if we were to study our legislation by reference to the opinions of the European Parliament. The unintended consequence of going down this road would be that nobody would schedule texts at all. One would simply be told to find the relevant information oneself. I would prefer to leave the legislation as it stands.