Vol. 530 No. 6
175 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the reason the application of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, to a range of public bodies, planned for 21 January 2001, has been delayed; the date which will now apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4825/01]
In December 1999 the Government decided that the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, would be extended to a range of bodies in the enterprise sector with effect from 21 January 2001.
Regulations to give effect to this decision are at an advanced stage of preparation and will be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas this week. Before the regulations can come into effect, motions approving them in draft must be passed by both Houses. The process, which usually involves a referral to a joint committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas, is expected to take two to three weeks.
Owing to the Christmas recess and to discussions on technical issues with the various bodies concerned and with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government, it was not possible to have the necessary motions approved in the Dáil and Seanad this year in advance of 21 January 2001. However, the regulations shall have effect from that date.
