Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to respond to that. It is not directly analogous, but every year there is a resolution to renew the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. There are regularly resolutions on the transposition of European legislation and on the approval of conventions. Some of those motions are taken with debate, some are taken without debate. I think it would be reasonable that many regulations the Minister would seek to make under this legislation would be put to the House without debate, but there are very many exceptions. I refer to situations where the implications for the public could be very considerable and would justify debate. To a lot of people this may seem dry and in many situations it is, but it has very serious potential implications. It has been well outlined. Relevant information may include people's political opinions, their sexual orientation, their background, their history, all that kind of stuff. That information is very important and personal to people and needs to be guarded safely and securely. As such, I do not think it is unreasonable, where the Minister is seeking to make regulations that might have such significant impact, that such a resolution should be put to the House and debated before being passed.