Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

This amendment provides for a prohibition on access to data, except in accordance with those provisions set out in subparagraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (1). It means that telecommunications companies may not allow access to data or access data, except at the request of the person to whom the data relates, or for the purpose of complying with a disclosure request under subsection (2) or (3) of the section, or in compliance with a court order, or for the purpose of civil proceedings, for example, where bills are in dispute, or as may be authorised by the Data Protection Commissioner. In general, material of this nature will be made secret, subject to a number of exceptions.