Written Answers. - Australian Visit.
Mary O'Rourke
Question:
55
Mrs. O'Rourke
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
the purpose for which his Minister of State, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, has travelled to Australia; the number of people in the party; the name and title of each person; the length of time of the visit; and the total cost of the visit.
[4846/95]
The programme A Government of Renewal commits the Government to enact freedom of information legislation in 1995, modelled on best practice in other countries. The Minister of State, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, has specific responsibility for the enactment of freedom of information legislation and in this connection travelled recently to Australia and New Zealand to examine the operation of such legislation in those countries.
The purpose of the visit was to discuss in depth the practical issues of freedom of information legislation for both potential providers and users of official information; to assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing freedom of information models in their implementation; to discuss how practical issues raised by Government Departments here had been addressed by similar Government Departments in these jurisdictions and arising from this process to identify those legislative provisions which make for the most effective legislation.
In coming late in the day to freedom of information legislation, Ireland is in a unique position to draw on best international practice. I am determined to ensure that our freedom of information legislation should be fully informed by legislative provisions which have an established track record in delivering greater openness and accountability.
Australia and New Zealand were chosen as the most suitable models to study in an in-depth manner for a number of reasons. First, the legislation adopted by these countries has achieved considerable success in achieving its goals of greater accountability and transperancy. Second, these are common law jurisdictions with a system of Government similar to our own, based on the Westminister model. Third, as Australia comprises a commonwealth of states, it offered an exceptional opportunity to examine up to seven models of freedom of information legislation, enacted in different states, some as recently as 1992, and at Commonwealth level. The freedom of information legislation in the Australian Commonwealth, its states and New Zealand offers therefore a unique variety of approaches.
Finally, both Australia and New Zealand are conducting reviews of their freedom of information legislation and practice, 12 years after first enactment, offering a special opportunity to access the results of in-depth evalution.
In addition, in her role as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Fitzgerald availed of the opportunity to promote Ireland as an investment location through meeting leading business people in Australia who are investing in jobs in Ireland.
The Minister of State arrived in Sydney on Saturday, 11 February, and left Wellington for home on Monday, 20 February. The officials accompanying the Minister attended a further series of meeting in New Zealand and left on Saturday, 25 February. The Minister of State was accompanied by four officials from the Office of the Tánaiste. These were Ms Julie O'Neill, assistant secretary, Mr. Finbarr O'Malley, legal advisor, Mr. Gerry Kearney, principal and Ms Aine Stapleton, assistant principal. Because of the recent nature of the visit, final costs are not yet to hand. Every effort was made to keep the cost at a reasonable level. Based on the information currently available, the estimated cost of the visit for the Minister of State and four officials is £25,000.
In all the Minister of Stateand her officials attended 30 meetings, details of which follow. The delegation divided into subgroups on occasion to cover this heavy schedule of meetings in the time available.
The visit was very successful in terms of the quality and range of information and experience to which the delegation had access. I am confident we will get excellent freedom of information legislation as a result of the comprehensive and careful preparation which is preceding it.
Visit of Minister Eithne Fitzgerald, T.D. to Australia and New Zealand
Schedule of Meetings Indicating Title of Head of Delegation
CANBERRA
Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. Laurie Brereton, MP.
Attorney General's Department
Principal Counsel, Civil Law Division.
Department of Social Security
First Assistant Secretary. Legal Division.
Department of Employment, Education and Training
Assistant Secretary, Legal Branch.
Treasury Department and Revenue Officials
Deputy Secretary, Financial and Structural.
Public Service Commission
Director, Legal Services.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
FOI Co-ordinator.
Department of Human Services and Health
Director, Administrative Law and Litigation, Legal Services Branch.
User Groups
Barrister and Journalists.
Cabinet Office
Assistant Secretary, Cabinet Office.
South Australia State Representative
Director, State Records and Information Policy.
Ombudsman
Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Ambassador's Reception
Reception at Ambassador's residence attended by politicians, representatives of the business community, the public service and the Irish community.
MELBOURNE
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Deputy President AAT.
SYDNEY
New South Wales Representative
Deputy Ombudsman.
Privacy Commissioner of Australia Privacy Commissioner.
Australian Law Reform Commission Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Deputy President, Australian Law Reform Commission and Public Interest Advocacy Centre.
Business Lunch Organised by IDA Group Director, QBE M.D., Solution Six Nutrimetics Financial Network Services.
Queensland State Representative
Deputy Information Commissioner.
FOI Consultant
Consultant.
The Newspaper Publishers' Association of New Zealand (INC.)
Executive Director.
WELLINGTON
Minister for Justice
Ombudsman.
Ombudsman.
Justice Department
Secretary for Justice.
Law Reform Commission President.
Department of Education
Manager, Legal Services.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputy Director, Legal Division.
State Services Commission
Solicitor.
Privacy Commissioner
Privacy Commissioner.
Ministry of Commerce
Chief Legal Adviser.
Cabinet Office
Secretary to the Cabinet.
Treasury
Treasury Solicitor.
Business Representatives
Director, Wellington Manufacturers' Association.
Chief Executive, New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation (Inc).
