Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

If we spend this amount of time discussing the section, we will certainly have plenty of time to absorb the report before we reach the sections to which it refers. It is worth pointing out that the Information Commissioner is a public servant which means he is a servant of the Houses of the Oireachtas and subject to the legislation that we choose to pass. He has issued four reports on the operation of this legislation. I was looking at the fourth only last night. People are considerably oversimplifying the question of consultation. From my experience as a public servant, I am aware that one often gets to hear of something relevant and one then makes an inquiry. When the Information Commissioner made an inquiry in this instance, specific observations were invited. In effect, therefore, he was consulted despite suggestions to the contrary.