Alex White (Labour)

Nobody argues with what the Minister of State describes as "the compelling rationale" for the legislation. We on this side of the House understand and support it. The Minister of State has not, however, dealt with the possibility of a limbo situation arising. The only reassurance he offers the House is that he thinks it unlikely that authors would seek to exercise a right in the interregnum. I have no doubt he has been in touch with the Irish Writers Union but no organisation can bind every writer to a particular agreement.

The Minister of State ought to have considered that this is a real prospect. The amendment would still allow the legislation to be put in place. It would simply give the Minister of State a mechanism to ensure we can have both and there is no gap. The word "unlikely" is not good enough and to say regulations will "possibly" be produced by the end of the year is not sufficient to deal with the problem.