Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2013
292. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish details of discussions between the previous Government and the European Central Bank, in particular regarding whether the ECB expressed a view on the Irish Government not letting any of the Irish banks collapse prior to the introduction of the State banking guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8867/13]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department to publish as much correspondence as possible where the publication of the correspondence is in the public interest and where it is reasonably practicable to do so. For example my Department has released under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 correspondence from the then Minister for Finance to the EU Commissioner on Economic and Monetary Affairs, the Managing Director of the IMF and the President of the European Central Bank. However, as the Deputy can appreciate, occasions can arise where it is not possible to publish all the records held by the Department. For example under Section 24(2)(e) of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2003 my Department cannot release information that has been communicated in confidence from, to or within an institution or body of the European Union. Also under Section 24(2)(f) of the same Act my Department cannot release records of an Institution or Body of the European Union which contains information the disclosure of which is prohibited by the Institution or Body.
