Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister of State explain something? As it stands, section 43 defines three terms to be used in Chapter 3, which establishes the national gambling exclusion register. This is an important part of the Bill, it is very worthwhile, and I think we would all support the idea that it is there. At the moment, that section defines three terms: "initial period", "relevant date" and "relevant exclusion period", and in each case refers to where that term is defined later on the Chapter. The "initial period" is defined in section 44(4)(b). The "relevant date" is defined in section 44(5)(b) and "relevant exclusion period" is defined in section 46. I do not have any difficulty with any of the definitions but it seems amendment No. 75 creates a new section 43, which will replace the existing section 43 and substitute simply the definition of "relevant date". I do not understand why, if that is necessary with regard to the definition of "relevant date" that is provided in section 44(5)(b), which is exactly what the proposed amendment would refer to, why there is not also a need to refer to the definitions in 44(4) and section 46 for the definitions of "initial period" and "relevant exclusion period"? If it is good enough to rely on the definition of "relevant date" that exists in Chapter 3, it is good enough to rely on the other ones. A stand-alone section 43 simply defining "relevant date" by reference to another section in that Chapter appears superfluous. If it is not superfluous, why would we drop the other definitions?