Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I have considerable sympathy for Senator Tuffy's earlier amendment but the Parliamentary Counsel was not keen for me to accept it. However, I can see its force and, between now and Report Stage, I will look at it again and consider if the rules referred to are those in force at a material time rather than any which might have been repealed. It may depend on the Interpretation Act and I do not want to suggest the Parliamentary Counsel is wrong in this respect. Under the Interpretation Act, certainly in respect of enactments if not statutory instruments, the repeal of something does not affect an ongoing procedural inquiry.