Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

This amendment, which has been suggested by the Information Commissioner, is not being accepted. It would mean, in effect, that a public body would not be obliged to consult with a person prior to making a final decision to release the personal information of that person to some other person, where a public body has decided it would benefit the individual to release the information concerned. It is not clear why a public body should not be obliged to consult in such circumstances. We are, after all, talking about the release of someone's personal information, albeit in circumstances where the public body has decided the release would benefit the individual concerned. The principal Act clearly envisaged that it is appropriate to consult in such circumstances and I have not seen any convincing argument from the Information Commissioner or otherwise why this should not continue to be the case.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment No. 6 not moved.