Seller's Legal Pack: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-27
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Aidan Davitt (FF), Industrial and Commercial Panel

As we have heard here already, and I appreciate Senator McCarthy moving this motion in order to assist the IPAV in what way he can, quite a lot of work has gone into this. There has been over three years of work done. The current CEO of IPAV, Ms Genevieve McGuirk, and her predecessor, Mr. Pat Davitt, were at the front of that work. I think Seán Canney, originally, and Marc MacSharry then carried out a lot of work, and Robbie Gallagher evidently. Quite a lot of different people have helped along the way. There was a hell of a lot of progress. It was through pre-legislative scrutiny and the whole lot. It was ready to be taken up and ran through the Dáil, which would have been the natural process. However, we find it here today in the Seanad.
Unfortunately, today's process will be a backward step. The sentiment is well intended but the amendment is certainly not helpful and ill worded. The amendment to the motion is not of any help as it will give the power back to where we were trying to get it away from, which was the legal services and they will be all over this again. This is why we are where we are. I believe acceptance of the amendment would put us back to square one as an unintended consequence of today. What I have said is no reflection on anyone who talked here. They all talked in good faith about the amendment.
The Cathaoirleach has the power, under Standing Order 44, I think, which allows any member to withdraw a motion or an amendment from the Seanad, by agreement of the Seanad. I urge the Cathaoirleach to strongly consider that today because I am afraid that this amendment to the motion is not going to be helpful.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:33+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-27