Clause 48 - Powers of inspectors
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
10:30 am
Lady Lady Hermon (North Down, UUP)
I know that the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik) had the best of intentions in supporting amendments Nos. 194 and 273, but I do not intend to press those amendments. I shall explain why. I tabled the long amendment No. 194 because I wanted to toughen up the offence, or to tease out an explanation of what was meant by ''reasonable excuse.'' However, last night, when I examined that carefully constructed amendment—I am being sarcastic—I noticed that the final line states that
''it is a defence for him to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the requirement.''
That is tautologous, so I do not want to speak to amendments Nos. 194 and 273. I have spoken to the other amendments in this little bunch. We need to consider the seriousness of intentionally obstructing the inspector during an inspection.