Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The amendments contained in this group cover minor technical issues, being amendments made on foot of consideration by the Office of the Attorney General of the initial text. Amendments Nos. 7 and 8 more accurately reference the companies and insurance Acts. Some of the amendments have been made to improve the clarity of the provisions. Amendment No. 19 puts it beyond doubt that only one health insurance subsidiary is being provided for, while amendment No. 23, having regard to the contributions made in both Houses when the issue of extending the powers of the VHI was discussed, reaffirms that the establishment of subsidiaries to engage in new activities and functions provided for under section 7(c) can only happen after authorisation has been obtained. That was one issue that was raised with us in the Dáil and we want to confirm that.