Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2004
90 Mr. Sherlock 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6255/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Acts of 1997 and 2003.
The FOI Acts have 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. The Department of Finance is, therefore, conducting a consultation with all Departments with a view to preparing a list of bodies that are considered to be appropriate or inappropriate for inclusion under FOI for submission to the Government in the near future. I do not wish to anticipate the outcome of this process, but I do not anticipate the extension of the FOI Acts to the Garda.
