Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

This provides clarification as to the schedule referred to. Amendment No. 5 is deemed necessary because only part of the European Communities Act may come under the responsibility of a Minister. The other parts may be the responsibility of other statutory bodies. This is a standard provision in legislation.

Regarding amendment No. 6, it is the norm to use the expression "amend by regulation". The Chief Parliamentary Counsel has proposed this amendment.