Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014
211. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to include a schedule within the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 or otherwise identify FOI bodies that meet the description in section 32(3)(a)(ii)(I) of that Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28528/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not my intention to include a schedule within the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 or to otherwise identify bodies encompassed by the provision mentioned by the Deputy. A large number of public bodies as defined under FOI legislation could be subject to this provision. Seeking to identify such bodies in a schedule to the legislation or otherwise could have the unintended consequence of excluding particular public bodies from the scope of the provision which in light of the intention of the section would not be consistent with the objective of the FOI Bill.
The Deputy may wish to note that the provision referred to by the Deputy is not new to the FOI Bill 2013. It is contained in Section 23(3)(a)(ii)(I) of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and is repeated, without amendment, in the current Bill at Section 32 (3)(a)(ii)(I).
In addition, I am informed by the Office of the Information Commissioner that no issues in relation to this provision have ever arisen in a review under the FOI Act by that Office.
