Jim O'Keeffe
Question:375 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to repeal and update the Official Secrets Act, 1963. [18364/02]
Adjournment Debate. - Official Secrets Act.
As indicated in the Government legislation programme – autumn session 2002, published by the Government Chief Whip on 7 October 2002, a Bill to replace the Official Secrets Act, 1963, is being drafted at present with publication expected in mid-2003. The Bill will have regard to the 1997 report on the review of the Official Secrets Act by the Dáil Select Committee on Legislation and Security, which recommended repeal of the Official Secrets Act and its replacement by a new, more narrowly focused statute which would criminalise the unauthorised disclosure of only a limited category of official information, the disclosure of which would be prejudicial.