Professor Gary Murphy:

I think the answer to the Deputy's question is "No". There is nothing in these nine suggestions that is in any way onerous or too onerous. Clearly, as regards the budget yesterday, in an era where there are always scarce resources, things can be reasoned out of existence but there is nothing in any of these suggestions that I would say would cost the State an onerous amount. I would be favour of beefing up SIPO as a body. Independent regulators globally work and work well when they are fully resourced. Having looked quite carefully at this Bill, I do not see anything in it that is extraordinarily onerous. In fact, it builds on the success of the 2015 Act and, as I said in my opening remarks, the more openness this provides, particularly in terms of extending the definition of a DPO, the better. When this cropped up in the media a number of months ago, I did not quite understand the reticence of the Department. I would say the answer to the Deputy's question is "No".