Amendments to Bills

Amendments may vary in complexity from minor editorial changes to the text of a Bill to the insertion of new Parts or Schedules.

Proposed amendments are described by reference to the page and line numbers of the Bill, and also by reference to section numbers when a Bill is being amended on Committee Stage.

Under Standing Orders, the Ceann Comhairle may disallow an amendment if it is not relevant to a Bill or in conflict with its intentions, or in the case of amendments proposed by non-Government Members, if it might give rise to public expenditure or additional taxation. If an amendment is disallowed, its proposer will be advised in writing. No discussion is permitted on disallowed amendments.

When proposed amendments are received by the Bills Office, they are first circulated as a "white list" of amendments submitted by each Member and subsequently published as a "numbered list" of amendments, ordered by their page and line number reference.

On the conclusion of an amending stage of a Bill, staff of the Bills Office will prepare an amended version of the Bill incorporating the amendments agreed by Members during the debate.