Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I concede that the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Mrs. O'Loan, would want to have a right to receive information and for there to be no legal obstacle to this being provided. In this case we are dealing with sections 53 and 73 which deal with harmful information. It is expressly provided in both cases that if the Commissioner authorises a member of the Garda Síochána, no offence is committed. Likewise, in respect of section 73, if the ombudsman commission were to permit the release of information then Mrs. O'Loan would get it. If the amendment were accepted, any member of the Garda Síochána or the ombudsman commission staff, could subvert the authority of the ombudsman commission or the Garda Commissioner by doing a solo run claiming he or she is providing that information. This must be prevented.