Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall for tabling this amendment. Deputy Nash raised the matter to which it relates on Committee Stage in the Dáil and I undertook to consult with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on it. In the intervening period, I was advised that the reference in the Bill to the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 is correct and it is not necessary to provide for an amendment along the lines suggested. Indeed, the reference to the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 in the Bill is in line with similar references in other recent legislation. Taking this advice, I do not propose to accept the amendment. However, again I thank the Senators again for raising it and bringing additional scrutiny to this element of the Bill.