David Norris (Independent)

I want to help the House because questions have been asked about these influences. The front page of The Irish Times carried an article about the Equality Authority making a complaint to the Garda because of the alleged disclosure of information which is prohibited under the Act. This was disclosure of information that came about during the course of an investigation. A Roman Catholic chaplain in a prison was assaulted. He tried to get a copy of his terms of employment but was denied them. The court directed that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should make this information available to him, but that was not done. He then alleged discrimination, but he was not found in favour of on that one. However, subsequently when this information was leaked from the Irish Prison Service by a named official, the Equality Authority found it was justified and he was awarded €40,000 in compensation. That amount of money is not awarded unless there is something to it. It was appealed but the appeal was dropped and the €40,000 was paid over.