Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

There are two reasons the Long Title is being amended. First, it will remove any doubt as to whether the proposed Part 7 of the Bill, which deals with data retention, comes within the scope of the Bill. Access by the Garda to retain data is important in investigating terrorism and protecting the security of the State but it is also used for investigating non-terrorist offences and, because of this wider application, the Attorney General considered it prudent to extend the Long Title to include a reference to data retention. Following consultations with the Attorney General it is also considered prudent in the interests of clarity to include a reference to the European Arrest Warrant Act in the Long Title. A number of amendments were made to that Act in the Lower House, more amendments have been tabled for debate today and still more for debate on Report Stage.

While the amendments are technical and procedural in nature, given that their number and the fact that the arrest warrant provisions form a distinct part of the Bill, I have decided to err on the side of caution and propose specific reference to the European Arrest Warrant Act in the Long Title.