Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The Government has tabled an amendment to section 22, the section that deals with apologies, with regard to the prominence of an apology. Section 20 deals with an offer of amends procedure, that exists since the 1961 Act. It would be inappropriate in the context of the offer of amends provision to insert any provision about the prominence of an apology because the offer to make amends is contingent on court approval and the agreement of the parties. Therefore, it is not an appropriate section in which to introduce the concept of the prominence of the apology. There is a Government amendment on section 22.

Senator Regan made the point that he has gone through the Bill to check where reference is made to apologies. The issue depends on the section in which the apology is contained. In the context of this section, it would not be appropriate to have a reference to the prominence of the apology.