I have another difficulty. I cannot appreciate why the Minister here is not removing the word from this Bill to accommodate the draftsman. It is stated in simple terms that this is the Export Promotion (Amendment) Act and in the same way as the previous Bill it would serve to amend previous Acts, the 1959 Act in particular. I cannot understand why if the draftsman is insisting on having the word "Amendment" deleted from the Insurance Bill he is not insisting that it be deleted from this.
Export Promotion (Amendment) Bill, 1982: Committee and Final Stages.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2
Question proposed: "That section 2 stand part of the Bill."
I appreciate the Deputy's point, which I made myself. This is being done strictly on the advice given by the parliamentary draftsman. I will quote from the advice I have:—
In contrast, however, the Parliamentary Draftsman's Office has advised that since successive amendments to the Export Promotions Acts have included the word "Amendment" in the Short Title this practice should be continued. The Parliamentary Draftsman's Office felt strongly that the custom of adhering to the existing Short Titles format should be continued in these cases.
What they are concerned about is a technical amendment which they regard to be in the interest of good legislative practice and consistency. That applies to the previous Bill which the draftsman does not think should be in the form of an amendment but he does not give the same advice in this instance because there are two different histories in regard to the two sets of legislation.
I am not in conflict with the Minister in this regard but it is interesting to see the different attitudes of the draftsman in two individual types of Bills. I regard it as proper procedure in regard to the Export Promotions Bill because it amends legislation from 1959 to 1980. It simply extends the power of the Minister to deal with matters other than those included in the other amendments. Who am I to argue with the parliamentary draftsman, particularly from this side of the House?
Question put and agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment and passed.