Seanad debates

Wednesday, 16 October 2002

European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, 2001 changed from European Union Bill, 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages.

 

The idea is to make it as open as possible but there is also a fairly obvious and practical requirement that one must protect those occasions, which in my view will be rare, where confidentiality arising from the circumstance will necessitate something other than a full and open discussion. It would have to be transparently obvious to the committee that this was not an abuse by the Government of the day. It would be a very foolish Government or Minister that would try to duck behind the confidentiality requirement. For example, in the Ombudsman's Act there is a provision whereby Ministers may not make certain information available but this has never been used. I argued in this House that it was likely never to be used and I would guarantee it will probably never be used. Nonetheless, given the nature and extraordinary breadth of issues covered it is necessary to include this provision.

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