Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that no leak of information relating to correspondence regarding a person (details supplied) emanated from her Department; the steps she has taken to verify if it did or did not emanate from her Department, particularly in view of another high-profile leak from within the justice system, for which she has already apologised to this Deputy on the record of the Houses of the Oireachtas; the steps she is taking to ensure a person's private business remains as such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27955/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have no information available to me to support any contention that there was a leak of information in respect of this correspondence from my Department. The Deputy will be aware the correspondence was signed by him and four of his colleagues. I have no information on whether it was copied to third parties.

I would point out to the Deputy that the matters which were the subject of the correspondence were reported on in the media and it is evident from that reporting that family members of the person who was the subject of the correspondence had made comments on the matter. I would point out further to the Deputy that one of the group of Deputies who were signatories to the correspondence also appeared in connection with it in media interviews.

My response to the letter in question made very clear my commitment to ensuring respect for the right to privacy. Indeed, it is against that background that I have refrained from making any detailed comment publicly about the case even where inaccurate information has been put in the public domain, including in relation to my role in the matter.