Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I have no difficulty in principle with the essence of amendment No. 24, which proposes to make the confidentiality clause provided for in section 26(1) subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The amendment will not have any effect until the Freedom of Information Act is extended to embrace the Veterinary Council and, as Senators may be aware, the Minister for Finance intends to bring forward legislation in the near future to extend the remit of the Freedom of Information Act to embrace a number of additional bodies, including the Veterinary Council of Ireland. In this context, consultations are ongoing between the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of Finance and the Attorney General as to the best legislative vehicle to address the subject matter of this amendment. I hope to be in a position to return to this matter on Report Stage.