Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will keep an open mind on the matter. My view would be that the courts are responsible for protecting and supervising our rights. As a Member of the Oireachtas, I am concerned at the idea of setting up another statutory quango that could just become much larger than is required.

I have a couple of questions for Mr. Dooley before I hand over to my colleagues. I thank him for coming before the committee. I agree with the findings of former Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Murray, but when delegates from the Department of Justice and Equality came before the committee last week we asked them why there was not particular protection for journalists in the heads of scheme. They argued that in addition to journalists, doctors have an oath of confidentiality towards their clients, and then there are lawyers and priests. Their argument was that rather than identifying one group such as journalists, it would be better to have a general method whereby there can be exemptions for people under different headings. What would Mr. Dooley make of this?