Vol. 575 No. 3
80 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he intends to bring forward an order applying the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to the Garda Síochána and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28260/03]
The Garda Síochána is one of the bodies under the aegis of my Department which has not to date been made subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1997.
The Freedom of Information Act has been extended to additional public bodies on a phased basis since it commenced in April 1998. The Government has decided that the process should continue so that all bodies appropriate for inclusion are covered by end of 2005. With a view to considering the position of the Garda Síochána, the commissioner established a working group in March 2001 comprising members of the Garda Síochána and representatives of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The group's terms of reference were to examine all the issues arising from any extension of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to the Garda Síochána and to prepare a detailed proposal of actions for consideration by the commissioner.
Following that, the commissioner has made a submission to my Department, analysing the issues to which any such extension would give rise. I will carefully consider that submission before coming to a final view on the matter.
