Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

This Bill is an amendment of the 1954 Act. In the case of amending legislation, it is the policy of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to follow the format and language of the parent legislation. In this case the language of the parent Act is not gender neutral although adequate provision for the interpretation of gender references is provided for in the Defence Act. If and when the Act is to be completely rewritten, I accept that every reference to "his" would be replaced by a reference to "his or her". While I have no difficulty with the Senator's case in principle, when amending legislation the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel is to follow the wording of the parent legislation, which is the Defence Act 1954.