Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I wish to deal with the international relations aspect. One could make the case that the release of an individual report from, for example, our ambassador to Rome, or the Italian ambassador here, about a banal conversation would not harm the interests of the State. The problem is whether one's international relations as a whole would be covered in confidence. If a judgment has to be made on each particular case, there would not be consistency and, therefore, there would not be a mutual reliance in diplomatic relations with other countries that particular things said or communicated would not be released. There is a strong case for a class exemption.