Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My section 43 will allow for Independents who are not members of registered political parties to process data that does not seem to me to be covered by Article 9.2(d) of the general data protection regulation, GDPR. If I were to accept the Senator's amendments, having regard to the very positive and helpful nature that is intended, I would be concerned, for example, that Independent candidates would be allowed to process political opinions of members or former members of political parties only but that it may not allow for the processing of data for the public at large. If that were to be an interpretation, acknowledgment or a ruling in that respect, that, in essence, would be bizarre.