Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Alex White for raising this matter. On a point of clarification, my advice indicates that the phraseology in the Government amendment is more succinct in that the term, "educational establishment", is already defined in section 2(1) of the principal Act. An order has been made under that section identifying the establishments covered by this definition.

With regard to the point raised by Senator Leyden, the legislation deals only with public libraries which are accessible to the public and libraries such as the Oireachtas Library or the RDS library are not covered. Consequent on the advice, I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Government amendment.