Rónán Mullen (Independent)

-----and he sees fit to continue the agreement. That says something about the rhetoric sometimes employed in these debates.

The bottom line is that we live in a dangerous world and a test of reasonableness, a key principle, must apply. There are issues surrounding the collection and retention of data about people, but I am comforted by the detail of the agreement. First, people will have the right to access their data and have incorrect data corrected. They will also have a right to redress for a violation of their rights under the agreement. This right does not only apply to individuals in the United States but to all individuals, regardless of nationality or country of origin.

The second key issue is the possibility of regular joint reviews. That is how one deals with difficult scenarios when there is an incursion into people's rights. However, for the sake of the greater good, one must try to ensure injustices are prevented as far as possible, rectified as soon as possible and that the entire system is reviewed to ensure it is working well and not being misused. We are aware of how people who wish to behave in an evil way, whether they are terrorists or other criminals, are always acquiring new knowledge, strategies, skills and technologies; as such, it would be folly of governments, acting on an initial positive instinct to protect human rights which is essential, to tie their hands in an unreasonable and unnecessary way and, thereby, plunge people into unnecessary danger. That is what the motion is about. It is important that we are reasonable and proportionate and take the safeguards built in into account.