Vol. 417 No. 6
43 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the procedural and operational changes he proposes to introduce into the operation of his Department in order to give effect to the Taoiseach's statement of his commitment to open Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department has, for some time, operated on the basis that as much information as possible in regard to activities and decisions, and the reason for them, should be made freely available subject to normal requirements in relation to notice and confidentiality. The establishment in 1990 of ENFO — the environmental information service — is a notable illustration of this. I should also draw attention to the Department's various publications on policy matters and works programmes, the regular statistical bulletins and other reports wich are published, the variety of other material made available by the Department's press and information service, and the extent to which officers of the Department participate in conferences, seminars etc. on matters related to its functions.
In line with the Taoiseach's declared objectives, I will be examining, on an ongoing basis, what procedural and other improvements can be made in order to improve the flow of information from my Department and, in particular, to explain the reasons for, and the basis on which, decisions are being made.
