9 Ean 2013, 14:06
The Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will discuss the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill 2012 with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin TD at its meeting tomorrow, Thursday, 10th January 2013.
Ciarán Lynch, TD, Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, said: “The Bill plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information legislation and also to extend the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to all public bodies. If we are to have greater transparency and accountability in our public and political system, it is important that we have the necessary legislation in place to allow greater access to official information from our public and administrative bodies. Tomorrow, we will have a chance to discuss the scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill with Minister Howlin and examine how the proposed legislation will impact on the current Freedom of Information regime. Members will also have an opportunity to give their views on the legislation and to raise any issues or concerns they may have on the subject.”
This meeting will be followed by a discussion with Algirdas Semeta, European Commissioner responsible for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud.
Deputy Lynch said: “We’re looking forward to our meeting with Commissioner Semeta. As the commissioner who oversaw the development of a directive on a financial transaction tax, we will be interested in getting his views on the EU’s taxation system, while members will have an opportunity to discuss how tax measures from the EU may impact on Ireland.”
This meeting will start in Committee Room 2, Leinster House at 2pm on Thursday, 10th January 2013. Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies
Richard Boyd-Barrett, People Before Profit
Michael Creed, Fine Gael
Pearse Doherty, Sinn Fein
Stephen Donnelly, Independent
Sean Fleming, Fianna Fáil
Joe Higgins, Socialist Party
Heather Humphreys, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Peter Mathews, Fine Gael
Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein
Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Michael McGrath, Fianna Fáil
Dara Murphy, Fine Gael
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Kieran O’Donnell, Fine Gael
Arthur Spring, Labour Party
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Billy Timmins, Fine Gael
Liam Twomey, Fine Gael
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó'Ríordáin, Labour Party
Senators
Sean D Barrett
Thomas Byrne
Paul Coghlan
Michael D’Arcy
Aideen Hayden
Tom Sheahan