Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

An amendment similar to this one was tabled on Committee Stage. It requires other member states to serve documents in this country requiring persons to attend hearings in another state within a reasonable time prior to the hearing. As the Minister indicated on Committee Stage, it would not be prudent or correct of us to impose such a provision on other states. The onus is on other states to serve documents in good time if they require a person to attend there. It is in a state's interest to ensure that documents are served within a reasonable time period prior to the hearing. That goes without saying. I consider the amendment to be superfluous in this regard as it would entail placing an onus in Irish law on other states. That is not appropriate and for that reason the proposed amendment cannot be accepted.