Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I agree with Senator Maurice Hayes that the appropriate context to review this question is in the data protection legislation. The exchange and supply of information goes to the heart of proper policing. In the global village, which our world has become, it is essential that police forces in different jurisdictions exchange information candidly. This is already the practice. Senator Tuffy's amendment would interfere with this and cast a doubt over it. In doing so, it would impede the effective investigation of offences.