Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

If a new Bill was required then this would be a new Bill. However, this Bill was approved by this House on Second Stage. I appreciate the point made by Senators Regan and Norris that this is a Bill which may require amendment. It would have been open to the Government to have commenced the discussion on this Bill at section 20 but we did not do so; we have returned to the beginning of the Bill. Therefore, anyone who has any difficulty with the 43 different points of defamation law set out in this Bill has an opportunity to discuss the merits and demerits of each of those 43 points in the course of this debate. Neither I nor the Government opted for having the Committee Stage discussion foreclosed for that reason. The Bill before the House now of necessity must be substantially unamended to enable me hear the views of Senators. I will reflect on what is said and at that stage consider whether amendments can be brought forward on Report Stage. This is the reason the Bill is in this form and the reason we begin the procedure at this point.