Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

Section 17 applies to normal day to day operations of Science Foundation Ireland. SFI will be subject to freedom of information and this section will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The Freedom of Information Act has detailed provisions to protect interested third parties. Section 17 prevents the release of confidential information other than that which is appropriate through the Freedom of Information Act, which has sufficient checks and balances. Effectively, therefore, the section is subject to the Act.

Question put and agreed to.

Section 18 agreed to.

SECTION 19.

Government amendment No. 14:

In page 15, subsection (1), line 8, to delete "and" and substitute "given with the concurrence of".