Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
272. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if details held by the Garda on those persons guilty of sex offences and who are subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 will be made subject to freedom of information legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42031/13]
View answerThe Freedom of Information Bill 2013, which I am currently sponsoring, passed Second Stage in the Dail last Thursday (3 October 2013).
The Bill as currently drafted provides, in accordance with the Programme for Government and the Government decision of July 2012 on the General Scheme of the Bill, that An Garda Síochána will be subject to freedom of information in relation to its administrative records subject to security exemptions.
Under Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Bill as drafted, An Garda Síochána will be exempt from FOI, “other than insofar as it relates to administrative records relating to human resources, or finance or procurement matters”.
Information on persons subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 will not, therefore, be potentially available for release under FOI.
