Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
616 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of his 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 he envisages proposals to bring any such body within the scope of the Act in the foreseeable future. [1712/05]
View answerThe State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department that are not subject to the Freedom of Information Acts are the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, An Foras Teanga, Arramara Teoranta, the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursement Board and Waterways Ireland.
Proposals are being developed in the Department of Finance in the context of plans to extend the Freedom of Information Acts to other appropriate bodies by the end of 2005. The question of extending the Freedom of Information Acts to the National Advisory Committee on Drugs is being considered in this context. Extension of the Freedom of Information Acts to Arramara Teoranta will also be considered.
The Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004, before the Oireachtas, provides for the dissolution of the board and for the establishment of a new Dormant Accounts Disbursement Board. At such time, consideration will be given to whether the new board should be brought within the scope of the Freedom of Information Acts.
An Foras Teanga and Waterways Ireland are North-South Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999. Preparation of the code of practice on access to information held by such bodies is at an advanced stage and it is expected to be implemented during 2005. In addition, my Department is covered by freedom of information legislation and any information held by my Department which is common to both the Department and the bodies is subject to this legislation.
