Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 7, between lines 40 and 41, to insert the following:

"(d) in the appropriate debates of the Houses of the Oireachtas.".

I do not blissfully assume the Minister of State will accept this, although perhaps he might as he is a nice man and can sometimes be helpful. I merely wish to put this on the record.

We discussed the issue of the courts seeking guidance in terms of sections 5 and 6. I believe the courts ought to be allowed to make reference to and seek information in the appropriate debates of the Houses of the Oireachtas, and that is what this amendment endeavours to do. They should not be compelled or coerced. While the courts are utterly independent, we write the rules on how they conduct their business and their superstructure. I move the amendment and propose that the appropriate debates of the Houses of the Oireachtas should be one of the references the courts are permitted to use in endeavouring to construe the provision of an Act.