Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

If I am not interrupted I will conclude after one sentence. I need to make this important point, which is that the principle being communicated in this section, as proposed to be amended, is that a person who is a director, manager, secretary or officer of a corporate would be liable, as well as the corporate body, for an offence. That is a very important principle. I note it is somewhat contradictory that the Government has not taken on board the proposal in respect of the Corporate Manslaughter (No. 2) Bill put forward by Senator Daly, in which the same principle applies.

Those are the points I want to make, and they do relate to the amendments. This is a very sad day for the environment. I recognise that the Bill will now be passed and I urge the Minister to look for any opportunity to try to address issues of heritage in the future because, unfortunately, this will be a dark mark on the Department's legacy in terms of heritage under its previous and current name. When the balance is considered, I believe there will be much to be redressed.