Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
299 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of her Department which are not subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 1997; the reason a body is not subject to the requirements of the Act; and if she envisages proposals to bring any such body within the scope of the Act in the foreseeable future. [1705/05]
View answerThe Department of Finance plans to extend freedom of information provisions to a range of appropriate bodies in 2005. Within the health sector, proposals to extend freedom of information to the following bodies are currently being finalised with that Department: An Bord Altranais; Bord na Radharcmhastóirí — Opticians Board; the Crisis Pregnancy Agency; the Dental Council; Dental Health Foundation; the Drug Treatment Centre Board; the Health Insurance Board; the Health Research Board; the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board; the Medical Council; the National Breast Screening Board; the National Cancer Registry; the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery; the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the Office of Tobacco Control; the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland; the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council; the Special Residential Services Board.
The following bodies are not deemed appropriate for the application of the Act at this time for the reasons outlined below: the Food Safety Promotion Board; the Institute of Public Health; the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal; the Adoption Board; the Voluntary Health Insurance Board; the Hospitals Trust Board; the Board for the Employment of the Blind.
The Food Safety Promotion Board is a North-South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement Act 1999. Under the Agreement, Irish and Northern Ireland Ministers with responsibility for freedom of information will, as soon as practicable, draw up a code of practice on access to information for approval by the North-South Ministerial Council. Preparation of the code of practice is at an advanced stage and it is expected to be implemented during 2005.
The Institute of Public Health was established prior to the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 under the auspices of the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland and the Department of Health and Children. It is intended to consult the institute regarding the application of the above code of practice to it. The Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body. Access to information concerning adoption has been the subject of an extensive process of consultation and the Minister of State with responsibility for children has recently published details of legislative proposals arising from this. The Voluntary Health Insurance Board provides private health insurance within the commercial market.
Under the current health reform programme, the Hospitals Trust Board is to be dissolved and alternative arrangements are intended for the services provided by the Board for the Employment of the Blind. These services are being examined by a working group which is expected to report on its work at the end of March.
