Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It will be a major Bill and applying a fine at that level now would have an enormous effect on the consolidation legislation. I appreciate the desire for a clear signal but the ODCE can go to court so it would be overdoing it to increase the fine to €10,000 at this time. Having said that, we are giving the ODCE access to the books for the first time. I appreciate the Senator's aims but it is not appropriate to have a €10,000 fine at present.