Mr. Ken Foxe:

Deputy Timmins struck at the heart of the purpose of freedom of information legislation. It is about persons in authority in public bodies and State bodies thinking twice before they make a decision. It is about them wondering whether this is a good use of public money, whether this is a correct decision or whether this will be considered stroke politics. What is frequently lost in the discussion of the cost of FOI is the cost benefit of FOI. What about all of the money that has been saved by Irish newspapers on behalf of taxpayers through the major reforms of the expenses system and through the disclosures of what was going on at the State training agency, FÁS? All of this creates an environment in which public bodies, public servants and politicians feel like every decision they make is subject to scrutiny and they will no longer get away with something.