Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:49. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill. [39875/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 20 September 2012
Ceisteanna (49, 53)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:53. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when will he publish the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012 Regulatory Impact Assessment undertaken and completed by his Department earlier this year. [39879/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 53 together.
The Deputy will be aware of the significant commitments given in the Programme for Government to restore the Freedom of Information Act, to extend its remit to other public bodies. To this end the Government has recently approved plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information and I have submitted the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for its views and recommendations. I believe that the Committee can on its own account and drawing on the perspectives, experience and expertise of a broader range of relevant parties make a very significant contribution to the further development and refinement of these important legislative proposals. I expect to be in a position to publish the Freedom of Information Bill following careful consideration of the views of the Joint Oireachtas Committee received on the legislative proposals and the drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in due course.
The Deputy may wish to note that the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill is available on my Department’s website and it is my intention to publish the associated Regulatory Impact Assessment on the website shortly.