As Senator Alice-Mary Higgins is not present, amendments Nos. 16 and 17 cannot be moved.
Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage
This is just a quick word to support the amendment which is critical to what we have discussed.
The amendment has already been discussed.
In fairness, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins indicated that she would not proceed with the other two amendments.
I agree with and will be supporting the Government's amendment.
I acknowledge that the Bill has been passed. I urge the Government, perhaps, as it moves through the Dáil, to reconsider some of the amendments, suggestions and arguments put forward. I will be happy to continue to work, as I am sure others will, with the Department on the amendments, in particular those that seek to ensure a proper tracking of information, both on the cost of the knowledge development box and its benefits. I urge that further consideration be given to other amendments during the passage of the Bill through the Dáil.
I thank Senators for their valuable contributions to the debate on the Bill which is a valuable dimension in offering innovation and a positive development for SMEs, for which I have responsibility as Minister of State. As the House will be aware, the Bill will be taken in the Dáil next week. I will certainly take on board what has been said about the reporting provisions. The Minister, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, and I will take the contributions on board as a result. We will try to make this a better Bill for everybody so as to ensure we will have good legislation that will be in the interests of entrepreneurs and those with ideas in the research and development sector which will lead to the creation of jobs. I acknowledge the full engagement and active participation of Senators in the debate on the Bill.