David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude. Although the member state and the national court may impose penalties on an individual or company that is not compliant with the provision of EEC law, this is subject to the conditions and the penalties must not be disproportionate and must not undermine entitlement to a basic company right. Small companies are being pushed into an audit, which is very expensive. It is contradictory with European law in both the spirit and the letter of the law and I will return to this on Report Stage.

I was asked to leave the House earlier because I had met somebody from a foreign delegation and wanted to talk to them. However, nobody had the wit to send an usher to get me when my amendment came up. Like the person who complained about the noise earlier, I did not hear what was going on. I was gathering my papers to come into the House but the amendment went through in a flash. I was caught at both ends.