I move amendment No. 6:
In page 18, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:
"(2) A person who contravenes section 12 (4) shall be liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £25,000 (together with, in the case of a continuing contravention, a fine not exceeding £2,000 for every day on which the contravention is continued), or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine and such imprisonment.".
This amendment is in response to the wishes expressed by all Deputies on Committee Stage and there should be a possibility of dealing with serious offences in higher courts which would have the power to apply more severe penalities. The amendment proposes that a contravention of section 12(4) may be tried on indictment and that upon conviction a court may propose a fine of up to £25,000 together with a fine of up to £2,000 per day for a continuing offence and/or a term of imprisonment of up to two years. I think this will satisfy many of the points raised by Deputies on Committee Stage with which I agreed. This amendment will be a further addition to the legislation and I recommend it to the House.