Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will go into detail on this so that people understand that these really are technical changes - corrections might be the word.

This group of amendments concerns a range of corrections to wording and to cross-references contained in the Bill at this point - for example, wrong wording or references to legislation including those that are as a direct result of the ongoing amendments being made here in the Seanad by way of progressing the Bill.

I will give some examples. Amendment No. 11 is a technical amendment relating to the definition of qualified barrister which better defines the reference to the timing of a disbarment, if one has occurred, which precludes a person from being within the definition. Amendments Nos. 79 to 82, inclusive, deal with the removal in four places of the words “under this Part” since in final drafting, they became superfluous. Again, that is just a change because of new amendments that have come into the Bill. Amendments Nos. 225a and 225b on the additional list are consequential technical amendments to correct references following on from amendment No. 225 to update references to the Companies Act 2014.

While I accept that there is an extent to which these types of amendment have to be taken in good faith as a grouping, they will not, of themselves, prevent or disrupt us from discussing those substantial matters of amendment that are before us today.I ask Senators to accept what I am saying, that these are a range of corrections to wording and cross-references contained in the Bill at this point. This change in referencing is needed because of some of the changes we are making. This series of amendments is purely to deal with that aspect. They are consequent to amendments and update references to the Companies Acts and various other definitions in the Bill.