Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I read the report in respect of the elderly lady the Deputy speaks of who has a particular set of challenges, and I note the intervention of the President of the High Court. There is a health Bill, which is published, which deals with the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Dentists Act 1985, the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Pharmacy Act, and the Nurses and Midwives Act to provide for amendments required for the transposition of Directive 2013/55 EU in an appeal against minor sanctions. I am not sure whether that covers it or not but I will advise Deputy Martin on that.

In regard to the question that he mentioned about AIB, that is an online platform for a different situation. The bank has made a commercial decision to allow for higher interest rates of more than 1% on deposits which would, I suppose, be seen as an attractive introductory market for outside deposits. It is not part of the relationship between the Government and the bank here. It has made that commercial decision itself.

In respect of reports today about the question of the retention of data and the communications therein, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have absolute confidence in Ms Justice Ring, who is the chair of GSOC. It should be pointed out that there is no interpretation that GSOC has done anything incorrect. It has followed the law and has very high standards in this regard. There is oversight by another eminent member of the Judiciary. The Minister for Justice and Equality will make a statement or announcement on this, I think later this evening, in respect of the decision taken by Government to have a review of this legislation.

For the information of the House, there are five areas to which the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 applies: the Garda Síochána, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, the Defence Forces for purposes of safeguarding the security of the State, the Revenue Commissioners in respect of serious specified revenue offences, and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in respect of serious specified competition offences. The Government reflected on the matter this morning and the Minister for Justice and Equality may well have issued a statement by now or otherwise will do so. I want to make it clear that the Government has absolute confidence in GSOC, the chair of GSOC and in the oversight judge.

I am not responsible for headline reports. This is a complicated matter and is not as simple as it might seem initially. The Government has made a decision to look at the legislation. Obviously, this is the House that determines legislation at the end of the day.

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