John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

The Control of Exports Bill was initiated in this House in February 2007 and, despite our best efforts, it was not possible to have it enacted before the end of that year. It was necessary, therefore, to amend this section to provide that the first annual report to the Oireachtas on the operation of the Act would be in respect of 2008. I assure Senators that this is not to be regarded as an attempt to delay the provision of information on our strategic exports but is merely a technical issue. Until this Bill is enacted I do not have a legal basis on which to submit an annual report to the Oireachtas.