Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 3

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

140 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he intends to bring forward an order applying the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12802/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Garda Síochána is one of the bodies under the aegis of my Department which has not to date been made subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1997.

The Freedom of Information Act has been extended to additional public bodies on a phased basis since it commenced in April 1998. The Government has decided that this process should continue so that all bodies appropriate for inclusion are covered by end 2005.

A working group comprising members of the Garda Síochána and representatives of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was established by the Garda Commissioner in March 2001 to examine all issues arising from the extension of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to the Garda Síochána and to prepare a detailed proposal of action for consideration by the commissioner.

Following on from this, the commissioner has very recently made a submission to the Department which I will carefully consider before coming to a final view on the matter.