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guardianship rights of those convicted of killing partners; and laws to restrict the disclosure of counselling notes in sexual assault court cases. The Minister is pushing the outer limits of legislation to give protection to women and to deal with this. That is real, tangible progress across funding

public interest, and it shows that no one can expect to be protected in their actions. We are always coming back to a place of national vetoes on information and we need maximum disclosure and for all parties to be willing to stand for truth, to be brave

create a lop-sided justice system in the Six Counties? Will that protection for veterans apply to both sides of the conflict? Will the British secretary of state retain a veto over the disclosure of the role of paid British agents in the Troubles and will former

ensure that participation in restorative justice schemes does not adversely affect vetting disclosures in cases where this information is relevant. Ensuring the safety and well-being of the children and vulnerable adults protected by the vetting legislation must remain a top priority. At this juncture, it is unclear

list and treated as a palliative care patient without any discussion or disclosure to his family is profoundly shocking. No parents should ever learn after the fact that the system, which was meant to protect children, effectively gave up on their child. I again send my sincere condolences

slow to recognise the importance of protecting legal or journalistic privilege when bringing forward legislation. That has been particularly true in relation to legislation coming from the Department of justice. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 32 allow for the compelled disclosure of potentially privileged material subject … that end, we have tabled amendments to make clear in the Bill that where an authorised officer or adjudication officer compels disclosure or takes possession of a record that may be subject to legal privilege, the officer cannot use, copy, communicate or act upon that record before

50th anniversary was marked by the highest recorded level of disclosures of domestic abuse in its history, with nearly 46,000 cases. These are only the cases that are officially disclosed. In 2022, 10,000 protection orders were issued against the perpetrators of domestic violence, of which

section 28. Section 32 is a standard provision intended to protect legal privilege. Section 33 creates an offence if certain persons, including staff of the director, an authorised officer or an adjudication officer, make an unauthorised disclosure of information acquired while performing functions under this Bill. Section … legally secure access to the evidence needed to tackle serious crime and for citizens, it means confidence that their data and rights are protected, as we enhance our capacity to fight crime in the digital age. The regulation provides that access to personal data through the mechanism

There is no accountability whatsoever. The public needs full disclosure at all times in respect of safety. Deputy Carroll MacNeill is the Minister for Health. We have not heard a peep from the HSE or the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. They are all the time telling us that

support and more spaces. It is vital that the disclosure of counselling notes in court is banned. I spoke in favour of an Teachta Coppinger's Bill a few months ago in this regard. It is essential to protecting victims and ensuring their right to privacy between their

these technologies? Of course, the public will also need assurances around any companies providing services in respect of these technologies and the protection of data when using private companies. There needs to be an absolute guarantee that the State will not be using the services of Israeli-based … unauthorised disclosure of Garda PULSE personal data on 14 individuals. While it is important to say that these misuses related to a very small minority within An Garda Síochána, the experience of that misuse of PULSE reinforces the need to ensure proper protections are in place to ensure

their intimate partner, ensuring stronger protection for children. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025 will strengthen the legislation around consent and the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will restrict the disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence

aligned with fines set out under the Al Act. For public bodies, fines are capped at €1 million, in line with the data protection legislation. Section 114 provides that no administrative fine takes effect without confirmation by the High Court, which is a key procedural safeguard. Sections … sections 121 to 127, inclusive, sets out criminal penalties for obstruction of authorised officers, failure to comply with enforcement notices, and unauthorised disclosure of confidential information. Part 8, at sections 128 to 133, inclusive, amends the Central Bank Act 1942 to equip the Central Bank with the investigatory

various regulatory measures. The EU Digital Services Act is a key framework ensuring online platforms take greater responsibility in preventing harmful activities and protecting users. Nationally, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act marked a turning point, shifting the burden from self-regulation to enforceable accountability. Coimisiún … criminal justice framework has been strengthened. The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 has broadened harassment laws to include impersonation and the unauthorised disclosure of private information. The Harassment and Harmful Communications Act, or Coco’s Law, further criminalised abusive online behaviour while existing fraud legislation already penalises

ultimately aimed at protecting the public. However, transparency is only one way of ensuring accountability, minimising and eliminating conflicts of interest and thus ensuring the best care possible. There is already a suite of measures in place designed to ensure transparency, accountability and public disclosure while minimising conflicts

evidence emphasised to committee members across all parties both how crucial counselling is to surviving and how the reality of allowing the disclosure of counselling notes actually impacts on victims. The committee listened and in our report we collectively called on the Minister to support a complete … know it is wrong and unacceptable to add to the trauma of victims and survivors. While of course everyone accepts that we must protect the right to a fair trial in all cases, we have a duty to victims and survivors that must be put at the heart

often just the tip of the iceberg because too many of these incidents go unreported and undisclosed. We have seen that incidence of disclosures of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is rising at the moment. We heard the references of 32,000 calls to Women … epidemic we need to address. That is why laws such as Valerie’s law and Jennie’s law are vital in ensuring the protection of women, men and children throughout the country and need to continue to be enforced and immediately addressed. They are vital in ensuring that

second and final in the collection of regulations to address the Commission’s concerns. Specifically, the regulations require the Data Protection Commission, the Office of the Information Commissioner and the Comptroller and Auditor General to ensure that when restrictions are being applied under section … safeguard the relevant function; and that relevant information about the restrictions is provided to the data subject, including the reason, except where disclosure would prejudice the body in the performance of its function. In addition, each of the bodies is required to prepare and implement policies and procedures

minority. It is something that does not happen and we would not expect to happen. The individual pleaded guilty to the unauthorised disclosure of Garda PULSE personal data on 14 different individuals. While it is important to say, as I mentioned, that such misuses would only ever relate … minority, it does point to a misuse of the PULSE system and, in my view, reinforces the need to ensure we have proper protections in place to ensure that when we are adopting new technologies that they are only used when appropriate, that they are properly authorised

more injured. While Operation Kenova did not investigate those bombings and made no findings on collusion in that case, it did expose the protection of agents, the withholding of intelligence and the prioritisation of operational advantage over human life, which is all directly relevant to the understanding … relevant evidence, particularly material held by British authorities. Nor has there ever been a sustained diplomatic or legal pressure applied to force disclosure from the British Government. Families were not failed by a lack of sympathy, although in many years since they did not even get that

vulnerable. We have had too many scandals whereby vulnerable patients, particularly our women and children, were failed by the systems that should have protected them. These must be the last scandals. We cannot stand over a health system that fails to learn lessons even after severe harm … Government TD, I believe our responsibilities now are immense. We must ensure full transparency. Families deserve the truth and not partial disclosures or defensive statements but the full facts. We must ensure accountability. Where wrongdoing occurred, it must be acknowledged clearly and addressed appropriately. Professional standards must

addressing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland, particularly when the alleged perpetrators are members of An Garda Síochána. Reliance on self-disclosure leaves systematic blind spots, allowing potential perpetrators to maintain investigative authority over other victims. Without statutory oversight, independent monitoring and systemic reform, Garda structures … welcome the recent setting up of the dedicated domestic violence unit, but does the Taoiseach agree that the mandatory reporting of barring and protection orders is now necessary? Does he believe it is right that a garda who is convicted of breaking the law should still serve

sure we are not creating space for unintended consequences. The National Vetting Bureau Acts of 2012 to 2016 provide essential safeguards for the protection of the most vulnerable people in our society. The Acts provide for the vetting of anyone who would have access to children or vulnerable … course of voluntary activities. The Garda National Vetting Bureau consults all of the relevant records available to it to produce a vetting disclosure, and this is used to inform employment decisions. Further consideration is required to ensure that vetting disclosures will not be affected in light

respect of the various legislative mechanisms that have been introduced. The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will restrict the disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence trials and criminalise the exploitative practice of sex in lieu of rent. The criminal justice Bill of this … ensure that convictions for serious domestic violence offences are made public as part of the conviction process. Each Garda division now has a protective services unit focused on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Early intervention is key. There is a broader issue of education and awareness

survivors to secure a compliant report before their first-instance decision is made. That creates a real risk of people being wrongly refused protection. On detention, the Bill expands detention powers but includes no enforceable healthcare standards. There is no guarantee of access to mental health professionals … replace proper continuing assessments but the Bill ignores that reality. On fitness to interview, trauma survivors can be prone to dissociation, can avoid disclosure because of fear or shame and can present inconsistently due to their psychological state, yet the Bill does not require that fitness-to-interview