Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I just wish to reiterate what Senator Norris has said and thank the Minister of State for setting up an engagement with his officials. It was useful for us all to meet. Senator Norris met with the officials separately but Senator Warfield and myself have certainly met with them since the previous day on which Committee Stage was taken in this House. It was certainly very helpful to discuss the amendments with them.

We have discussed the first group of amendments extensively so I will not say any more on that. It was certainly helpful to hear of the context for their drafting and of the issues with EU law and with the acquisin particular. I will, however, reserve more substantive comments to make on amendment Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, which are the amendments about which we spent most time deliberating with officials. It was helpful to do so, but we would all still want to make the particular points we have made about those particular amendments, which are more substantive. I will reserve my more detailed comments for those.