Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

—— statement as to why, in the opinion of the Minister, that disclosure would be prejudicial to the public interest or to security. Section 10 deals with the important matter of secrecy of information, a sensitive matter given that the Defence Forces ombudsman will by definition be involved in the investigation of complaints originating in the military environment. Notwithstanding this, there is a desire to apply a liberal interpretation to the practical remit of the ombudsman as provided for in the legislation. While a pending investigation might potentially involve touching upon some tangential aspect of military security, I would generally be reluctant to preclude the ombudsman from carrying out an investigation into a complaint merely on that tangential ground alone. However, as a concomitant defence for much wider general interest the legislation must provide appropriate safeguards against disclosure of certain types of information the disclosure of which, in the opinion of the Minister of the day, would be detrimental to that wider general public interest.

Senator O'Meara mentioned that the section states "may".