Mr. Kieran FitzGerald:

With regard to the statutory right to information, we are advised that the Department of Justice and Equality is currently preparing the draft heads of Bill for the new legislation. We have had some preliminary discussions with the Department to that end but we have not had sight of any paperwork at this stage. Whether the statutory right to information will be addressed in the Bill, or not, we cannot say at this time. As the Deputy said, it is a right we have been seeking for a long time. We have put various mechanisms in place with the Garda Síochána to try to expedite and facilitate the exchange of information but limited success would, perhaps, be the best way to describe that process. As of now, we do not know whether it will be a clear statement of access, such as outlined in the European Partners Against Corruption, EPAC principles and the Northern Ireland legislation.

We cannot say with any certainty at this time whether it will be there at all or whether there will be some other version of it.