Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I cannot act on that, nor should I. In terms of the acquisition of the file, Deputy Cowen was faced with a situation where he was being presented with private material about himself from journalistic sources. In other words, they had information about him relating to a PULSE file on him that he himself did not have. His point was that he was very taken aback by any assertions in respect of certain details. He was very clear. He acknowledged in the Dáil that he was guilty of a drink-driving offence, but seems to have been completely taken aback and shocked at any other implications. That is the language he used. Then information was coming out about speeding fines. Deputy Cowen related to me that he then rang the Garda directly to seek access to his own information, given that others in the media had it. I am just telling the Deputy what happened. I think a person has an entitlement to their own personal data if others have it and are putting questions in relation to it.

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