Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2023
124. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the current status of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2021; and when this Bill will move to the next Stage. [5841/23]
View answerThe Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2021 is a Private Members Bill introduced by Deputy Mairéad Farrell and Deputy Sorcha Clarke on 28th September 2021. I understand that it was considered at Second Stage in the Dáil on 3rd February 2022 and that a motion was passed on 9th February 2022 resolving that the Bill be deemed to be read nine months from that day. In relation to when the Bill will progress to the next stage, the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and Dáil Éireann sets out arrangements in relation to scrutiny of Private Members Bills.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that there has been significant progress in relation to the broader review of the Freedom of Information regime that is being progressed by my Department. This has been a wide-ranging and thorough exercise, involving multiple stages of consultation with stakeholders across all sectors.
The review process has been an open and collaborative one, and received approximately 1,200 submissions to its consultation phases, as well as a further approximately 1,100 returns to a customer satisfaction survey. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the stakeholders across all sectors who took the time to make their contributions to this important process.
An update setting out the current position in the review was brought to Government, and subsequently issued to stakeholders and published late last year. Given the breadth and complexity of the issues involved, it is envisaged that the review will be completed and the report brought to Government for approval later in the first quarter of this year.
My Department is continuing its engagement with key stakeholders in the public sector on draft preliminary recommendations. I expect shortly to be presented with final findings and recommendations in the form of a draft review report. In turn, I expect to present the review report to Government for approval and publication before the end of the first quarter of this year.
At that point, subject to Government approval, amending legislation will be tabled if required and an implementation process will commence.
