Amendment No. 13 deals with the sensitive manner in which data relating to convictions, offences and sanctions should be handled. The issue was raised in this House by Senators Cregan and Farrell and the amendment seeks to address their concerns. The new subsection set out in the amendment relates to the handling of sensitive personal data concerning offences, administrative sanctions and judgments or decisions in civil proceedings. It may be entirely reasonable in certain circumstances for a data controller to keep a record of offences or sanctions but the sensitivity of such data means that they must be treated and handled with care. Some of this may be in the public domain but other data may not be. For example, an insurance company may be fully justified in retaining material of this nature for the purpose of guarding against fraudulent claims. My Department will consult the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to possible regulations to be made under this new provision.