Mr. Rob Wright:

Again, I make those observations. There are many outlets to safeguard the public interest the Deputy is raising. If our auditor general in Canada, and I am sure Ireland's too, has the capacity to go through and make observations on where things could be improved and if advice is not taken, that is one of the things on which he will make observations. What we have identified here is a paradox. I believe the concern about access to information was probably an overreaction by the Department, in some good degree. We say in here, and I believe, that it is really important to get more information out there. In some areas, one should get policy options out there for the broader public. That is something that should be developed. My focus in particular was on whether clearer, more blunt advice would be given if it was protected. It would. The paradox is that if one is saying advice to the Minister should be made public, one will not see a lot publicised to the public. The balance struck in Ireland's previous Freedom of Information Act allows advice to be protected if it is a matter that could affect markets, trading or international relationships. I think there is a remit broad enough to be assured that if one pushes the button, even in bluntest terms, and if it were inconsistent with what the Government and Minister said, if it is a matter of national importance, and why we referred to Cabinet - I heard from an earlier secretary general that there was a renewed process of the macro-economic risk assessment, and budgetary reports to cabinet on a regular basis - it would be unreleasable, so that would deal with that concern.

The vital issue for the committee to consider and to be assured of, and for the Minister for Finance to be assured of, is that there is no impediment to somebody pushing a red button and giving blunt advice when it is needed.