Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important that the Minister respond. He told us previously that he would rely on the amendment to support his and his Department's stance to apply blanket refusals on information requests. I find myself in the unusual position of being on the same page as the Data Protection Commissioner, DPC, given that I have had a number of years of differences with her, but her salient statement is that it is necessary for the Department to demonstrate "why in all the circumstances of this Commission it would be necessary to restrict rights of access" and how, in sealing the records, it is safeguarding the rights of citizens to access their own information, particularly in terms of that action's necessity and proportionality, which are key measurements under GDPR legislation and the amendment.

The Minister stated at the outset that he was not comfortable with the current position and that he would put measures in place to make changes. Why are we not making them now? The Department and his officials have already received advice from the DPC, but information has not been supplied to her or us-----