Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I move amendment No. 18:

In page 15, line 29, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

The risk assessment is only done for those who are at high risk of reoffending. In those circumstances, there should be responsibility on the risk assessment team to share the relevant information in managing the risk of harm posed by them. There needs to be a responsibility and an obligation on the team to share information and it cannot be used as a defence that where they reoffend and violate another human being, they can say that they had discretion or did not believe that the information was relevant. A doctor, a health professional or a teacher has a legal obligation under the Children First policy in regard to a child who is at risk. Surely that should be extended, so all relevant information is given and that we are not talking about the discretion of the individuals who are referenced here as to what information they are going to give and to whom they will give that information. The intention behind this legislation should be that we are protecting women and vulnerable adults in many cases. We should draft the legislation in that manner rather than giving discretion as to whom information or what information is going to be released. That is the thrust of those amendments.