Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. We discussed this in the Seanad as well. Part of the reason for this section is that we do not know what other types of public bodies may be constructed in the future. Rather than having to come back and amend this legislation if a new public entity is established, we are allowing the situation to develop in the future. This is really a "just in case" provision. It is there just in case there are public bodies that are not covered by the Bill. As I say, this is a data-sharing and governance board between public bodies. Those public bodies are defined under the Bill. As such, private entities are not covered by this. That would be a public body sharing information with a private body, which is not the intent or provision of the Bill.