Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Curran and Mr. Dooley. I will outline the context for this meeting. Under the programme of reforming how committees operate, we engage in pre-legislative scrutiny. This meeting is an opportunity to allow groups such as the delegation to make their opinions known on how they believe legislation should progress. At the end of this process, the committee will send a report to the Minister. It will include the delegates' comments and reflect members' opinions. As Chairman, I will not place a value judgment on recommendations in terms of what will be edited in or out - everything will be included when the report goes to the Minister. The submissions to the committee will not only be published on our website, but will also be included in the report to the Minister.

Rather than allowing members to express their detailed opinions on the FOI Act this morning, we have provided an opportunity to hear what the NUJ has to say and to tease out some of its thinking on same, if that is agreeable.

Mr. Curran indicated that as the legislation is currently set out, the Minister would determine who would come under the Freedom of Information Act. Does he have a view as to what, other than the Minister, would be a determining authority?