Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Under section 5(3)(n) and section 5(6), the Minister has the power to accept specific communications with designated public officials on relevant matters, policy, law and the allocation of public funds as long as he takes the public interest into account. He actually has power under the legislation should such exceptional circumstances arise. I am simply pointing out, as we work our way through this legislation, that its provisions give the Minister scope to deal with circumstances where there is a real threat to a person or the State consequent to the disclosure of information.