The following bodies under the aegis of my Department are not as yet subject to the Freedom of Information Act: An Post, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, the Electricity Supply Board, EirGrid plc, Bord Gáis Éireann, Digital Media Development Limited, MediaLabEurope, 14 harbour authorities, the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board, the Mining Board, Bord na Móna plc, the Irish National Petroleum Corporation, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Central Fisheries Board, regional fisheries boards, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Marine Institute, the Irish Maritime Development Office, Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, Arramara Teoranta, ten port companies and Coillte Teoranta.
Of the bodies, the following will become subject to the Freedom of Information Act with effect from 1 November 2002: the Marine Institute, Digital Media Development Limited, Central Fisheries Board, regional fisheries boards and Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
The Freedom of Information Act has been extended to additional public bodies on a phased basis since it commenced in April 1998 and the objective is to include all appropriate bodies by end 2005. I understand that consultations on the next phase inclusions will be initiated by the Department of Finance in the near future.
