Mr. Gavin Sheridan:

The Minister also spoke about how there is a certain cachet attached to a journalist declaring that he or she obtained the information under the freedom of information legislation. As was referred to by the previous witnesses, if it already is in the public domain or on a website, the FOI request often fails because the relevant Department can simply state the information is on the website. It is important that this is within the minds. Oftentimes, when I ask for these formats, it is not that those concerned are releasing stuff in formats in a deliberate attempt to block. It often is they simply do not know it is important that I get the format for which I have asked, as opposed to a format I cannot use.