Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs debate -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 1995

SECTION 33.

Question proposed: "That section 33 stand part of the Bill".

Mr. McCreevy

Section 33 deals with prohibitions on the disclosure of information. Regarding a point made the last day, on how information could leak to the detriment of a Member, perhaps the Minister would consider an amendment on Report Stage to prohibit the publication of information before a report was finalised.

This section prohibits the disclosure of information, even by a Member at a meeting in private session of a select committee. This is asking a great deal of politicians, who thrive on this. The three great bastions of rumour in Irish life are Leinster House, RTE and the Law Library, not necessarily in that order. I welcome the inclusion of this in the Bill but before Report Stage the Minister should consider adjusting this section as well to give consideration to the publication of part-information. Can she comment on that?

Ms E. Fitzgerald

There was a lengthy discussion on this previously and I said I would again look at the points made by the committee. The purpose of the section is to protect confidentiality, except where that cuts across the public interest.

Question put and agreed to.