Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The amendment provides for a change in the composition of the DNA database system oversight committee. The provision being repealed provided for a member of the committee to be appointed by the Data Protection Commissioner. The Data Protection Commission has raised concerns around this provision and its compatibility with the fundamental requirement of the commission to be completely independent in the performance of its tasks. The repeal of this section will address this concern. In its place, we are making provision for the Minister in appointing ordinary members of the committee to have regard for the need for data protection expertise.