Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Pursuant to Standing Order 128, I want to propose a verbal amendment without notice, as I am entitled to do.

The amendment is pursuant to the matter discussed earlier in the presence of the Minister, that section 35 be amended, that in section 35(3), after the word "scientific," the words "or academic" be replaced with the words "academic, religious or other" so that the defence to proceedings provided for in subsection (3) shall now read, "It shall be a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section for the defendant to prove that a reasonable person would find genuine literary, artistic, political, scientific, academic, religious or other value in the matter to which the offence relates."