Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, stated he would look at this again. While I appreciate that Senator Cummins is attempting to achieve consistency, the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel is that these amendments would create an inconsistency in the drafting of the section as a whole. He has not, in the preceding lines 28 and 29, referred to any money or any other personal property.

The Parliamentary Counsel was consulted on the matter since the conclusion of Committee Stage, but the consensus is that the acceptance of the amendments would create an inconsistency in the drafting of the section as a whole. It is, therefore, preferable to leave the position as it stands and to retain the Parliamentary Counsel's consistent approach.