Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I second the amendment. The argument is that the Attorney General should be the deciding officer when it comes to determining what information should be published in the national interest.

The Attorney General is in a unique position in Cabinet. If not a Deputy, he or she does not speak publicly on issues, although the previous holder of the office did so. The Attorney General has a knowledge of all Departments because he or she is not only legal adviser to the Taoiseach but also to the Cabinet. That gives him or her the independence and knowledge of Departments to be able to make this call. Everyone understands and accepts that it is important that some documents, particularly those relating to Northern Ireland and other matters of national security, should not be published. There is merit in asking the Attorney General, who is legal adviser to the Government on most issues, to take this position and Senator Higgins's amendment is constructive in that it concedes on the ten-year rule for areas of national interest. The suggestion has merit.