Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept this amendment because it does not allow for a commencement order for a certain section of the Bill. A general commencement order can be made to allow for commencement of all provisions of the Bill. The inclusion of the provision to allow commencement orders will allow, if necessary, the commencement of a provision of the legislation before the legislation is enacted. The company may begin to work on the scheme prior to the enactment of the legislation if a commencement order deemed section 12 to have commenced on a date prior to the enactment of the Bill.

A similar amendment was proposed by the Senator's colleague, Deputy Twomey, in the Dáil. It was debated at some length and rejected after due consideration.