Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

We are using the precedent of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act, 2001, in this regard. The Minister has been included because there may be circumstances in which information about leaks comes to the attention of the Minister, not the agency. I can vouch for the fact that this happens: when I was Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, I became aware that a member of staff was leaking confidential information to the public. If the Minister was aware of the fact that information had been divulged, but the provision I propose was not specifically mentioned in the Bill, he or she would be unable to intervene. It is important that we make this provision.