Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am glad to hear Senator Cannon explain the reasoning behind this amendment. Subsection (vii) of the amendment relates to constitutional rights. The director is obliged at all times to operate within constitutional norms. Proceedings permitted by Acts of the Oireachtas are to be conducted within the principles of constitutional justice and any departure from these principles would be restrained and corrected by the courts.

The constitutional rights of a person who is the subject of the relevant information are safeguarded, as always. On that basis, it would not be appropriate to make specific provision for constitutional rights in this case. Anyone who is given powers such as those granted by this legislation must operate within constitutional norms.