Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the first issue, as I said before, there are not many appeals concerning freedom of information applications to my Department, but there is a large cost involved. First, if it is a personal matter, as with most of the cases we deal with, there is no charge whatsoever. The €15 fee is modest compared to the average administrative cost, which is approximately €425. If the matter goes to the appeals commissioner there is a final stage whereby somebody can still get the report before the final report and at that stage there is no cost. People have copped on to that mechanism because I notice a number of cases go to that stage. Other than that, the costs involved must be reflected.

As regards old cases, it is difficult enough to get old files in my Department, not to mention other Departments. The Department of Finance has fairly good records and it gave me a report on that matter, which was a live issue with a number of organisations for an extensive period. While a number of points were made, the issue came down to whether, in 1994, I had given approval for a process to allow a confidential agreement. To be frank, if I had been asked to give approval to that, I am sure I would have, but I was not asked. Nobody was asked at that time. An Post — the national lottery — went ahead and did that for a five-month period in 1994 and in 1998, but I was not involved. If I was asked, however — I will be honest about it — I see no reason that I would not have given it, looking at the papers. In 1998, the then Minister was asked for approval in advance and he gave approval. That is all it was about. The totally unfair allegation was that there was something wrong with that, but there was nothing wrong with it whatsoever. These things get two days' headlines and then the journalist would not admit that he was wrong, but he is wrong. I did nothing wrong and even if I had given approval it would not have been wrong.

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