Results 1-7 of 7 for freedom of information segment:3528756

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I move amendment No. 5: In page 25, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: "(4) The Freedom of Information Act 1997 shall apply to the Board with effect from the establishment day.". We have come very neatly to this section on freedom of information. The Minister of State has already referred to freedom of information in the context of the previous amendment. Amendments Nos. 5 and...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will deal with the two amendments in turn. The first seeks to apply the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to the board with effect from the establishment date. On the advice of the Attorney General, the amendment should not be accepted, since it applies to the board rather than to the executive and would create substantial legal difficulties. However, I am glad that the amendment has been...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second the amendment. The appointment of advisers and money spent on writing or publicising reports are issues that have exercised the media. This in itself is not a sufficient reason for us to get too worked up about them but we should note that the public is naturally concerned about them because the money being spent is taxpayers' money. I have no difficulty with Ministers commissioning...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator has anticipated me. The Minister's intention is to commence those provisions from the date of establishment. Regarding the other amendment, which is perhaps more interesting, I must disappoint Senators by confessing that I do not share their unbridled enthusiasm for the Freedom of Information Act 1997. In my view, the preparation and analysis of written material is very important...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Fergal Browne: ..., they will be based on leaks that we will not be able to verify. This Government knows a great deal about leaks — perhaps more than some others. It is common sense to make drafts subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1997 so that they are public knowledge. Otherwise, one will see the information in the newspaper and no one will be able to comment on it since we will not know whether...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Kathleen O'Meara: I second this important amendment and thank Senator Browne for moving it. It addresses a serious part of this legislation dealing with the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information. While one can understand and appreciate that the board should be able to discuss its business in a confidential manner and conduct it knowing that it does so with the cloak of confidentiality, there is...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is clear from the legislation. The fundamental objective of the elusive mission statement that Senator O'Meara sought is to promote and protect the health and welfare of the public. That is a fundamental requirement for the executive. There is a balance to be achieved here because the executive must have the capacity to protect confidential information. That is only confidential if the...