I move amendment No. 39:
In page 6, subsection (1), line 37, after "opinion" to insert "and, unless the information is conveyed to the committee at a time when the person is present at a meeting of the committee, it shall be so conveyed in writing".
This subsection provides for a witness to inform a committee either orally, or in writing, that his or her opinion is that the committee's direction relates to a category of information which is exempt from compellability in certain circumstances. These categories are specified in subsection 6(9).
The Government's amendment specifies that the witness may give his or her opinion in writing. This was not made specific in the text of the Bill and the amendment takes on board points made by the Opposition on Second Stage.
Parts of this section are intimately linked with the provisions in Section 7(1) and (3) which refer to an arrangement under which a distinction is made between the treatment of certain public servants and members of the public. In light of the committee's strongly expressed views on this issue I am keeping an open mind on the possibility of eliminating it on Report Stage. Any amendments which I propose to section 6 are on the basis that further amendments to section 6(2) may be tabled for Report Stage.