Amendment No. 22 has already been discussed with amendment No. 17.
SECTION 12.
I move amendment No. 22:
In page 6, subsection (3), line 4, to delete "Mergers, Take-overs and Monopolies" and substitute "Mergers and Take-overs".
Is the Minister accepting the amendment?
Yes.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 12, as amended, agreed to.
TITLE.
Question proposed: "That the Title be the Title to the Bill."
Is the Title agreed?
No, it will have to be amended as a result of the amendment to section 12. An amendment to a section is different from an amendment to the long Title of a Bill which must be reported to the Dáil.
If the Minister accepts an amendment we will amend the Title accordingly before it is reported to the Dáil. However, I have to move a motion to that effect. Is that agreed?
You should ascertain the precise wording of the amendment to the Title which should refer to the Mergers, Take-Overs and Monopolies (Control) Acts, 1978 and 1987, in the way as they are now referred to in subsection (3) of what was section 12.
We can amend the Title in one of two ways, by agreement between the Minister and Deputy O'Malley or on Report Stage. The motion has to be moved by me and agreed by Members so that the proper mechanism can be put into operation.
We can amend it now to read: "An Act to amend and extend the Competition Act, 1991, and the Mergers and Take-Overs (Control) Acts, 1978 and 1987 ...". This wording is the same as that in the amendment to section 12.
Does the Minister have any problem with that proposed amendment?
No.
I ask the Minister to move the amendment to the Title.
I move the following amendment to the Title:
In the second line of the Title to delete after "mergers" the comma and to substitute "and" and after "takeovers" to delete "and monopolies".
The Title should now read as follows:
An Act to amend and extend the Competition Act, 1991, and the Mergers and Take-Overs (Control) Acts 1978 and 1987, and to provide for related matters.
Amendment agreed to.
Title, as amended, agreed to.
Report of Select Committee.
I propose the following draft Report:
The Select Committee has considered the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 1994 and has made amendments thereto and has amended the Title to read as follows:
An Act to amend and extend the Competition Act, 1991, and the Mergers and Take-Overs (Control) Act 1978 and 1987, and to provide for related matters.
The Bill, as amended, is reported to the Dáil.
Report agreed to.
Ordered to report to the Dáil accordingly.
I enjoyed the debate on the Bill and if I write my memoirs I will suggest it as a model for the training of staff, journalists, chairmen and spokespersons. I wish to pay tribute to Deputy O'Malley who worked hard in his endeavours to strengthen the Bill. He has much experience in the Department and I am sure the Minister appreciated his help and support. I also pay tribute to Deputies Ned O'Keeffe and Mary O'Rourke for their work. I thank the Minister and his officials for bearing with us during the very lengthy debate on the Bill. I also thank the press, the convenors and the staff of the House.
The Select Committee adjourned at 3.35 p.m.