I need to respond to the Minister because I will be pressing my amendment. It is disappointing the way the sections are being so narrowly considered. The entire premise of the 2004 Act is not secrecy. Section 198 of the Data Protection Act 2018 makes clear that the right of subject access is only restricted in so far as is necessary and proportionate in order to help a commission to operate effectively. It does not apply on a blanket basis. The 2004 Act afforded discretion to a commission to give people the documen…

I move amendment No. 13: In page 4, after line 36, to insert the following: " 4. Notwithstanding the provisions made in this Act, the Minister may make regulations providing for the creation of a data processing agreement between the Agency and the Authority, the National Archive or another public body where it is in the public interest and subject to suitable regulation.".

Amendments Nos. 25 and 27 relate to the contents of the records being deposited with the Minister under this Act. An index that was appropriately anonymised would be vital in ensuring that the records could be used appropriately for memorialisation and truth-telling purposes. It would also be important as a sign to survivors that light will eventually be shed on the records proposed to be sealed under this Bill. As the Minister is aware, we are here because the commission will shortly be delivering its report to hi…

I move amendment No. 26: In page 5, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “ Application of the Data Protection Regulation 6. (1) For the avoidance of doubt, Article 15 of the Data Protection Regulation applies without restriction to the evidence and documents deposited by the Commission with the Minister under subsection (2) of section 43 of the Act of 2004. (2) In this section, “Data Protection Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016.”.

I move amendment No. 27: In page 5, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “ Minister to publish an Index to the Commission’s archive 6. (1) Within 30 days of the Commission’s deposit of evidence and records with the Minister under subsection (2) of section 43 of the Act of 2004, the Minister shall lay before each House of the Oireachtas an Index to all of the evidence and records so deposited. (2) The Index to which this section relates shall be anonymised to the extent necessary and proportionate to pro…

I move amendment No. 28: In page 5, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “Legislative Review 7. (1) The Minister shall conduct a review of the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 57 of 2015). (2) In conducting the review under subsection (1) , the Minister shall consider the degree to which the Act of 2004 and orders made thereunder are the appropriate legislative instrument by which to investigate matters such as those listed in the Sch…

I understand what the Minister is saying about collective responsibility and how these investigations can fall under other Departments. However, while we wait on other people to do something, that often means things do not get done. We have seen the outcry on this. Every review or legislative process has to have leadership and a beginning. My experience of trying to deal with child maintenance in here for the past five years is a prime example of one Department saying it is not its responsibility but the responsibi…

I thank the Minister for being in the Seanad today. I thank the many survivors and their advocates and allies who have contacted me and other Members this week on this Bill. I have not had a chance to go through the more than 4,000 emails I have received since Monday but I and others have heard the concerns being expressed loud and clear. There has been a strong reaction for a reason. We are legislating in an extraordinarily sensitive area where we are beginning the process of trying to come to terms, as a society,…

This line of debate is insulting to the survivors about whom we are speaking. We are speaking about a specific area of the church and institutions. We are not here to defend something that clearly happened. It is disrespectful.

Shameful.

This is not about Senator Mullen's agenda. It is about the survivors and the Senator is making it about his agenda and is using the backs of survivors to do so.

It is a disgrace.

I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber this afternoon. I apologise in advance that I will have leave after my contribution, but I will check the record to learn her response. Covid-19 has impacted on all important services. We have seen the health and wealth of the nation affected. Education and learning were forced to move from schools to homes. One million young people were homeschooled in April, and many without the necessary supports or resources to do so. The leaving certificate of 2020 has been the mai…

I echo the sentiments of Senator Ó Donnghaile on transport and support his proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I also join Senators who spoke in support of the campaign to welcome to Ireland 400 people from the camps on the island of Lesbos. I have been following closely the work of a GP, Dr. Claire Dunne, who has been doing amazing work for the families and individuals on Lesbos. One only has to listen to the accounts emerging from that site to understand why and how promptly we must evacuate people from …

I thank the Minister of State for attending and for his ongoing work in his brief in the Department of Health. However, I would like the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, to make an effort to come to the House in future. In the previous Seanad, the attendance record of Ministers with particular briefs was very poor and we will be pushing for them to attend the House. That is not a reflection on the Minister of State who is welcome. My Commencement matter relates to the HPV vaccine. The reason I raise this issue…

I thank the Minister of State. It would be great for that issue to be brought back to the Department. The idea that the vaccine is most effective at the age of 12 or 13 is based, and I am open to correction on that, solely on the idea that any person after that age may become sexually active and would reduce the levels of impact. That is based on assumption. It seems that giving access beyond first year was more about cost-effectiveness rather than that the giving of the HPV vaccine at any age will have some effect…

I echo everything that my colleague, Senator Higgins, said. I would add that no Senator wants to see Seanad staff having to work to such an hour in the evening. It would not happen as a consequence of Senators doing their job, but of interference in the democratic process of this institution. Last week, I mentioned Keltoi, which is the only medical detox programme in the country. For many years, it has also been the only programme to use a trauma-centric approach. Ignoring resistance from people like me and other s…

Before I speak on the amendments tabled in my name, I echo my colleagues on the rushing through of this legislation and the manner in which it has been conducted.

I will speak to the amendment in a moment but this is important. We are talking about forestry workers, no one wants to see them lose their jobs, and we want to see their conditions protected. We also need, however, to have the conditions of the people working in the Bills Office respected. They are not being respected in the manner in which this Bill is being pushed through.

They are under incredible pressure and working from home as well. On amendments Nos. 3, 5 and 10, we understand the necessity around subdividing the appeals committee to try to speed up the process rather than their having to meet together. Will the Minister of State explain her objections to our amendments which simply call on the Minister of State to ensure that when the appeals committee is subdivided, there will be expertise in each of those subdivisions? There will be two individuals proposed in each subdivisi…