Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

The question of interpretation has interested me since my time in the legal profession studying law many years ago and it sometimes baffles me, whether it is written or otherwise. I understand Senator Cummins's point and the directions of the Minister of State. There is an old Latin maxim, inclusio unius, exclusio alterius- by including one we exclude the other. It would be a belt and braces measure if we accepted the wording in Senator Cummins's amendment. It is not offensive and it would support the Latin maxim that goes back to the time before Caesar.