Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that at this committee and, in particular, at the Committee on Disability Matters, we are often joined by extraordinary advocates on behalf of family members. I often wonder about the people who do not have family members who are so extraordinary and have fought for so long.

My question relates to the submission from Disabled Women Ireland regarding privacy. Although we may discuss the unfettered empowerment within this, at the same time there appears to be an ability on the part of the DSS under the legislation to set aside privacy rights. Do any of our guests wish to comment or elaborate on that? The privacy rights of persons or the ability to share their personal data is contained within the legislation in an unfettered manner and that lack of consent on the part of the person appears to be set aside at quite a low threshold.