A division was challenged last Friday on the question that the European Arrest Warrant Bill 2003 be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, pursuant to Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the committee's Orders of Reference. In accordance with an order of the Dáil of 4 December 2003, that division must be taken now.
Before proceeding with the division, it has been drawn to my attention that there was a breakdown in administrative procedures in the publication of the text of the European Arrest Warrant Bill, which led to two versions being published. First, the printer omitted to include the Schedule from the text that had been supplied to him and, second, a change to the text of section 9 was made when the Bill was republished to rectify the original error.
In the circumstances, I rule that the version as published on the first occasion and which was circulated to members is the valid document, as presented under Standing Orders, and any amendments should be addressed to that version. Accordingly if the Minister wishes to have the Schedule and the change to section 9 included, it must be done by way of amendment. I also rule that since Second Stage procedure relates to the general principles and not the detail of the Bill, which is appropriate for Committee Stage, the proceedings of last Friday are not affected by the difficulties that I have outlined.
I have reviewed procedures, especially in view of the pressures that are experienced at the end of each session, and I have decided that the normal 48-hour rule for publication will be operated except in very exceptional cases for specific operational reasons.
