Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 27:

In page 7, to delete lines 16 and 17 and substitute the following:“(e) communications of factual information made in response to a request for the information;”.

I am proposing amendment No. 27 to bring greater clarity to this exemption. The reference in section 5(3)(e) in the Bill as published refers to a request by a designated public official for information. In practice, requests for factual information may come from public servants other than designated public officials, while the information in response to such a request is often submitted to a designated public official such as the Secretary General of the Department. The amendment allows flexibility to cover such scenarios. In addition, the definition of "relevant communication" in section 5(2) already states a communication becomes a "relevant communication" only when made to a designated public official. Therefore, there is no need to repeat this reference. To be clear, the communication of factual information made in response to a request for information is exempt. If people simply want to obtain information, it is not regarded as lobbying.