Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Further consideration has been given to this matter by the Office of the Attorney General. On foot of advice from that office I am withdrawing the amendment to section 11, as tabled, and I intend to make the necessary amendment to the section at the next available opportunity on Committee Stage in the Dáil. Obviously Senators will have a chance to come back to the issue again. I will take on board all the comments made previously by Senators in respect of the section.

In regard to amendments Nos. 24 to 26, inclusive, having considered the matter in light of Senator Barrett's previous comments on Committee Stage, I have proposed an appropriate amendment to section 11. Therefore, I cannot accept the amendments, as proposed by the Senators. As I have said previously, this is an issue we will return to on Committee Stage in the Dáil.