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Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy debate -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1996

SECTION 19.

Amendment No. 24 is in the name of Deputy Ned O'Keeffe. Amendment No. 25 is an alternative and amendment No. 26 is related to amendment No. 25. We will discuss amendments Nos. 24, 25 and 26 together, by agreement.

I move amendment No. 24:

In page 19, subsection (1), line 13, to delete "as soon as may be" and insert "within six months".

That is a reasonable demand. We are discussing the annual report of the takeover panel. This is one of the big problems in the semi-State sector. There is no firm commitment to the presenting of reports and if there is a dispute there could be an inordinate delay. There should be a timeframe in place. If six months is unreasonable I will consider that but there should be a legal obligation that report be issued on a certain date.

I have taken the argument Deputy O'Keeffe made on Second Stage. My amendment is more rigorous than the Deputy's in that it stipulates a four months cut off point. The second amendment is equally important. It relates to the time when the report must be laid before the House. There are two different things. One is the report being laid before the Minister and the other is the report being laid before the House. The proposition is that it would be done "not later than six months after the end of that year". I have taken the point on board and my two amendments achieve Deputy O'Keeffe's points more effectively.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 19, subsection (1), line 13, after "as soon as may be" to insert ", but not later than 4 months,".

Amendment agreed to.

I move amendment No. 26:

In page 19, subsection (1), line 16, after "Oireachtas" to insert "not later than six months after the end of that year".

Amendment agreed to.
Section 19, as amended, agreed to.
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