Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I find it most unsatisfactory that I asked the Minister a straightforward question and he made no attempt to provide me with an answer. I ask that section 16 of the Juries Act 1976 be amended. I invited the Minister to give me his views but he refused to do so. I cannot think of any circumstance in which the addresses of jurors should be made available to anybody.

I put it to the Minister that the Act, and section 16 to which he referred, deals with names of persons only. That is fair enough and it may be important that a person be identified by name when engaging in jury service. I see no circumstances where a person's address should be made available to anybody. Will the Minister ensure that persons serving on juries are safeguarded in a way that does not give rise to the type of scenario reported in newspapers recently?

The Minister's reply deals with issues after the event, penalties and sanctions. I am asking what preventative measures might be considered by the Minister, one being that the addresses not be made available to anybody. Why should a person's address or telephone number be made available like this? I cannot think of any circumstances when an address or phone details might be required to be made available. Addresses should not be made available to anybody other than the registrar, and I cannot see any circumstances in which the registrar might be required to give personal details such as a home address to anybody. I invite the Minister to agree with me on the issue.

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