Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

21 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the recent warning issued by the Information Commissioner, he has any plans to issue guidelines or instructions to staff about the importance of keeping adequate written records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16771/00]

John Bruton

Question:

35 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to make any staffing or organisational changes in his Department following publication of the second annual report of the Information Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16731/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 35 together.

I presume that these questions arose from recent remarks, which were partially reported in the media, made by the Information Commissioner at the press conference to launch the publication of his second annual report.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, the Minister for Finance has power to make regulations for the management and maintenance of records held by public bodies, following consultation with the Information Commissioner and the Director of the National Archives. I have no evidence that the standard of record keeping in public bodies overall has deteriorated. I will, however, be keeping the matter under review and I intend to arrange for the staff in my Department dealing with freedom of information to consult widely with public bodies in this regard. This process has already started.

I should mention that prior to the introduction of the FOI Act in April 1998, a training course in best practice in records management was organised for all Departments by the Centre for Management and Organisation Development, CMOD, in my Department, and a number of Departments took important initiatives to improve their record keeping systems. In addition, the importance of records management and the need for public bodies to keep adequate records is continually stressed to staff of public bodies attending FOI training courses.

I do not propose to make any staffing changes in my Department following publication of the second annual report of the Information Commissioner. However, a chapter entitled "Some Lessons Learned", in which the Information Commissioner identifies areas where the handling of requests by some public bodies could be improved, has been circulated to all decision makers in my Department so as to inform their decision making practices under the FOI Act. I have also ensured that the key elements of the Information Commissioner's annual report have been brought to the attention of the interdepartmental working group and the public service users network, which exist to co-ordinate FOI implementation and share information and experience among public bodies. I am satisfied that no specific staffing or organisational changes are warranted in my Department on foot of the Information Commissioner's annual report for 1999.