Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Dec 1996

Vol. 149 No. 14

Control of Horses Bill, 1996: Message from Dáil.

An Cathaoirleach

The House has received the following message from the Dáil:

(1) Dáil Éireann has agreed to amendments 1 to 31, inclusive, and 33 to 66, inclusive, made by Seanad Éireann to the Control of Horses Bill, 1996.

(2) Dáil Éireann has agreed to amendment 32 with the following amendment:

In paragraph (a), to delete "of less than 12 months".,

to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

The text of this message is printed on today's Order Paper. I call on the Leader to move a motion requesting that action to be taken by the Seanad. I will then call on the Minister to explain the decision taken by the Dáil. I remind Members that each Senator may only speak once on this amendment.

Mr. Manning

I move:

(1) Dáil Éireann has agreed to amendments 1 to 31, inclusive, and 33 to 66, inclusive, made by Seanad Éireann to the Control of Horses Bill, 1996.

(2) Dáil Éireann has agreed to amendment 32 with the following amendment:

In paragraph (a), to delete "of less than 12 months".,

to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Deenihan)

Before explaining the subject matter involved, I would first like to touch upon the background to the proposed amendment. A pair of interconnected amendments, Nos. 30 and 33, are among those agreed in this House on Committee Stage. I considered it appropriate to amend the major amendment, No. 30, by Report Stage amendment No. 6. It would also have been appropriate on that Stage to table an amendment to amendment No. 33, otherwise a misalignment between amendments Nos. 6 and 33 would arise. Yesterday I availed of the opportunity in the other House to indicate the need for an amendment to rectify the misalignment between — I am now using the Dáil numeration — amendments Nos. 27 and 32.

The subject matter involved is the duration of horse licences. Members will recall that, on Committee Stage, the Minister was given powers to opt for licences of less than 12 months duration. On Report Stage in this House amendment No. 6 extended the Minister's powers to allow multi-year licences. The legal advice made available to me is that, if the misalignment is not rectified, the fee to accompany any application for periods of 12 months or more can only be the same as one of the fees for any period of less than 12 months.

I thank Members for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter.

Mr. Wright

The Minister of State might circulate his statement.

Question put and agreed to.

An Cathaoirleach

That completes the Bill and a message will be sent to the Dáil informing it of our decision.