Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I want to make a broad point on this. These amendments are nearly as long as the legislation we discussed on Second Stage last week. The legislation before the House last week was about two particular points: the exemption of accounting standards for limited periods of time and the appointment of company inspectors and the liability to the State as a result. We are making changes in those two areas.

I would appreciate the Minister of State's clarification on this if I am wrong but, in effect, these amendments will introduce a new area in the Bill. It is not a huge change from the discussion we had in the House last week. It concerns the purchase of company shares, especially from overseas. I can understand the reason for the amendment but it is introducing a new part to the Bill. It is not just amending what was in place. It is new.

Why could something like this not have formed part of the original Bill which we discussed last week? These amendments constitute a new provision in the Bill and put a new capability on it that was not in place last week. It is a different Bill as a result of this amendment. It is ranging into a different area. It might only be a small area but it is still a different area of competence in regard to the Bill we debated last week. I would be interested to know why that is the case and why it could not have formed part of the original Bill we discussed.