Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are related and will be discussed together.
Seanad amendment No. 1:
Section 1: In page 3, line 23, to delete "Foreign Affairs" and substitute "Foreign Affairs and Trade".
Biological Weapons Bill 2010: From the Seanad
The Dáil went into Committee to consider amendments from the Seanad.
Deputies will be aware the responsibilities of several Ministers and their Departments have recently been changed by the Government. The relevant statutory instrument amending Ministers' titles came into operation only after the Biological Weapons Bill had been passed by Dáil Éireann. These two amendments are required to adjust the provisions of the Bill to ensure the correct references to the two Ministers concerned, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister for Justice and Equality. These same amendments have been made in the Bill as passed by the Seanad on 9 June 2011.
Seanad amendment agreed to.
Seanad amendment No. 2:
Section 5: In page 5, subsection (1)(b), line 11, to delete “and Law Reform” and substitute “and Equality”.
Seanad amendment agreed to.
Seanad amendments reported.
The question is: "That Seanad amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are hereby agreed to and agreement to the amendments is accordingly reported to the House."
I thank the Opposition and all Members of both Houses for their support for this important legislation in terms of our international obligations, particularly on disarmament and non-proliferation. There is general agreement across the Houses on these issues.
Question put and agreed to.