Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In her last sentence, Senator Higgins articulates the reason we are here. We are doing this for the benefit of the citizen and to make it easier for the citizen to avail of public services and to do so in a legal framework that is compliant with the law. I draw attention to section 9(1)(q), which refers to "any other body specified in an order made under subsection 4".In other words, while the list of public bodies is long, it is by no means exhaustive. I am sure Ministers will make further amendments to the list in the future. There may be glaringly obvious omissions and this provision will allow the Minister of the day to make an order to add other public bodies to the list. The reason for including this provision is to ensure the section is not prescriptive.

I am aware of another amendment to be discussed later, as I referred to it in my Second Stage speech. The Bill specifically does not include the commercial semi-State companies for the obvious reason that these companies are in the business of trying to make an annual return and dividend for the taxpayer. It would not be practical to ask them to share information in the format that we are expecting other public bodies to share information. That is the reason for the difference in what is regarded as a public body under this Bill and what may be regarded as a public body under other legislation. It is simply to ensure we have regard to the commercial sensitivities of some of our public companies.