Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 34:

In page 26, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following:“(2) If an inspector removes or copies documents from a place of work or premises, then they shall be required to issue to the owner or person in charge of that place of work or premises with a receipt of any records taken or copied by the inspector.”.

We had a very good debate on this amendment on Committee Stage. This is to give some protection to businesses to ensure they have a record of what documents have been taken. Small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, are particularly vulnerable if certain documents are taken. If a business has a record of what documents are taken that will help in future legal proceedings. This amendment is to bring in some safeguards for businesses particularly SMEs. If an inspector is able to take documents away he has to be able to leave a record of what he has taken away with that business. It seems quite logical and I got the impression that it was likely to be accepted when we discussed this on Committee Stage.