Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the decision of the Minister to delete the two relevant subsections. It is a pity we did not have the choreography that was evident in the last amendment before we came to the House. It was a very serious aspect of the Bill because it would have allowed a Minister free rein to make the entire Civil Service out of bounds for anybody with a spent conviction.

Whoever is elected to the next Dáil will have to remain vigilant. It is to be hoped I will be one of those elected. Future Deputies will have to keep an eye on what the legislation will actually entail in terms of the leeway the Minister will have. It is vital that the Data Protection Commissioner and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission are required to be consulted on any of the provisions of the Bill.

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