Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have not heard any argument that explains why this amendment would place anybody at a competitive disadvantage. Certainly, I cannot see why asking an operator to be licensed would do so. It does not happen in any other industry. If anything, it levels the playing field for those operators working to the letter of the law. Leaving it open for unlicensed operators is the opposite as it allows them to come in at a lower price through, say, hiring workers on the black market or paying them less.

It is clear the Minister of State will not take on our amendments. I will resubmit them on Report Stage.