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

Thank you, Mr. Hammond. Before inviting members of the committee to put their questions I would like to raise three particular issues.

First, the committee is currently developing a proposal in the context of freedom of information which will take into account administrative aspects of the police force. Has a similar approach been taken in the United Kingdom and how has that worked out? Second, what would be the impact of further application of the Freedom of Information Act to semi-State companies, in the context in particular of competitor companies which are privately owned being able to acquire data that would be commercially sensitive to a semi-State company? The third issue was raised by a member of the committee during its earlier discussion, namely, regulatory bodies, in particular airports and energy companies, which have acquired a status that allows them to make decisions that cause serious damage to customers. It appears these bodies are operating in a secret world and the relevant peer Departments have long since given up trying to control them. This phenomenon is, according to the member concerned, referred to as regulatory capture. How do we ensure that regulators are appropriately held to account through the Freedom of Information Act? Perhaps Mr. Hammond would offer his expertise and opinion on those issues.