The current legal position is that under the existing Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation, an exemption is provided for personal information, which would include pension arrangements, except where such information concerns a director or a member of staff of a public body, which is covered by FOI. The Freedom of Information Act specifically provides that where a public body is covered by FOI, the terms under which a member of staff, holds or has held office, is not personal information and as such is subject to release under FOI.
As the Deputy is aware, I have already provided in the new Bill that FOI will be extended to all public bodies. In addition, I propose to make an amendment at Report stage in the Dáil to broaden the definition of what does not constitute personal information to ensure that the terms and conditions of any individual who holds or held any office, or any position in an FOI body remunerated from public funds, will be made available under FOI, rather than just those of a director or member of staff as at present (other than where for the specific reasons I set out at Committee Stage for the Bill a specific exclusion applies against the release of such information in the case of the NTMA and its associated bodies).
In light of the foregoing I do not believe that the course of action referred to in the Deputy's question is necessary.
