Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I propose these amendments for the same reasons. Amendment No. 77 is important. It just shows the power of language and what is meant in this Bill. The substitution of the word "records" for "information" is vital. Information implies that whoever is the holder of the record can decide what is released, and that is the crux of the problem. We are going to have a situation where that is going to have to be challenged and go through that whole process before it can be decided whether somebody has not released the full information. That is wrong. It should not be in this, particularly when we are dealing with a group of people who have had everything that the State has done against them to this point. We should be making it easier for them now. It shows the importance of language and of a simple word like that. For that reason this amendment should be accepted. I do not see that it would impact significantly on the legislation. It would remove a lot of the burden of complying with the legislation as well, because rather than having to decide which information one does or does not want to release, the assumption is that one would release everything. That is important.

In summary, the other amendments are the same. They seek to change and put in words and I am happy to support them. We will also be opposing a section at a later stage. I cannot remember what number it is, but that will be included as well.