Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 4

Written Answers. - Release of Records.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

519 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason his Department withheld records it had earlier agreed to release under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, concerning the investigation into the death of a person (details supplied); his views on the statement by the Information Commissioner that the Department behaved in a manner that was entirely inappropriate and acted improperly; and if he will detail the information which, as a consequence, has not been released under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997. [7520/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The Deputy should have by now received a letter which issued from my office dated 12 March 2001 setting out the background to this request. As the Deputy will be aware, decisions relating to these documents were taken by the officials of my Department who have statutory responsibilities in relation to this matter. Furthermore, I had no role in the decision making process and would not be consulted.

I am satisfied, however, that there was no attempt to deliberately withhold information to which the person in question was entitled and my Department has now complied with the directions of the Information Commissioner on the matter.