Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Does Mr. Cullen agree we have had a secretive system of government and progress has been made and that what is intended is further progress? It is often difficult for an institution to change its culture, and one of the big challenges for the Civil Service, but also for us as a society, is to change this mindset. I know from making inquiries to Departments that when we ask questions to elicit information it is seen as a distraction from the daily work of Civil Servants rather than is being seen as part of their work. When we have a shift in culture we will achieve the pro-active maximum publishing of material.

Deputies often clash with Departments when we ask parliamentary questions because a freedom of information request made at the same time elicits more information than we do. Perhaps the reverse is also true, where a Deputy gets a better answer to a parliamentary question then is received through a freedom of information request. I do not know why this is. Perhaps the freedom of information officer does not speak to the person who writes the parliamentary questions.

Mr. Cullen mentioned two organisations, the NTMA and NAMA, one of which is not covered by the freedom of information legislation. He also mentioned that according to the legislation establishing Irish Water, it will not be covered by the freedom of information regime. Perhaps an amendment can be made. I know of a few other organisations not covered at present. Does Mr. Cullen believe other organisations which are not covered at present and which are not intended to be covered should be covered to allow for the model he strives for and for which I strive for also?

I was interested in the point made that material is not given in electronic form in this day and age. This is a different problem. People still have not come to grips with the fact that one can press a button and send material and cut out the delay. This is not only with regard to freedom of information material. People requesting their files from the Department of Social Protection have the same problem. Those appealing social welfare decisions must wait until the physical file is transferred from the Department to the appeals office, but in this day and age most of the material is online. This is more a comment than a question.

The witnesses before the committee include journalists who are used to making freedom of information requests, and we have seen the articles they have managed to produce based on information which was hidden from view. I presume in most cases a freedom of information request is made after having applied to a Department for information in the first instance, and when a blockage is reached a freedom of information request is made. This comes back to the earlier point that if Departments were proactive they would answer questions honestly and up-front, particularly now they know one can pursue a freedom of information request, which adds to their burden and that of the journalists and the public.