Derek McDowell (Labour)

I am in a position to accept this amendment. As Senator Norris rightly pointed out, during the debate in the Dáil on the Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill I acceded to a late amendment tabled by Deputy Ó Snodaigh and supported on all sides of the House. I assumed that there would be no consequential amendments but, when it came before this House, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, noticed that there was a problem and, rather than bring it back to the Dáil — the Bill had been awaited for 20 years at that stage — we decided to pass it and avail of the first opportunity to remove the redundant and offending subsection.