Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Following consultation by my Department with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the matter, he has advised that the words "with any necessary modifications", which the amendment proposes to delete, are necessary to ensure our Data Protection Acts apply and have full effect. These words were included in the Europol Act 1997 and they are a common form in Acts such as this, which give effect to international instruments, for example, section 5 of the Customs and Excise (Mutual Assistance) Act 2001. The Deputy will agree the issues he seeks to address in the amendment are adequately covered by legislation and, therefore, I do not propose to accept it.

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