Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Government introduced a number of changes to the Freedom of Information Act 1997. Departments other than the Department of the Taoiseach have made it difficult for people to get information and, in a number of cases, the Information Commissioner has overturned the rulings of those Departments.

Is the Taoiseach satisfied that every request made to the official in his Department responsible for freedom of information is processed in an open and flúirseach manner? While the Department clearly would not want to share sensitive information about national security, is every request treated as openly as possible?

Why does it remain the case when a freedom of information request is allowed on appeal that the person making the application has to pay? It seems somewhat harsh that a person has to pay if he or she is first turned down under the Freedom of Information Act but then receives the requested information on appeal.

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