Mr. Michael Brennan:

In regard to fees, the position of the NUJ is that no fees should be applied. We accept, however, that a compromise position may be necessary. The cost of processing freedom of information requests is very high and the time required to process cheques is very long. There is no easy way to pay for a request. A simple, straightforward process should be introduced for payment, perhaps through the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. While we hope fees will not be applied, if they are applied, payment should be made as easy as possible for journalists and others. A simpler system would also assist the public service as one would not have a freedom of information officer sending out a letter on headed notepaper requesting payment and then sending back an acknowledgement on receipt of the cheque, all of which takes time and is probably a waste of money. Surely in the modern era, we can find a better way of doing this.

In regard to Deputy Sean Fleming's point on receivers, in some ways NAMA is a commissioning body and it has people doing all kinds of work. We hope the Act will cover all the information that flows back to NAMA from the people in question. While I expect the Act will not be extended to receivers, all of the information that flows from them to NAMA should be covered. As Mr. Dooley indicated in respect of the contracts NAMA has in place, it is a vast piece of work for people. We do not have any information other than that gleaned from replies to parliamentary questions tabled by Deputies. These are the prime source of information on NAMA. An extension of the Act is crucial to help journalists and members of the public.