Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is a great honour to be elected to this House and to be able to ask the Taoiseach of this country a question. Does he believe it is right that I, as an elected representative for the people of County Mayo, should have to pay for information that concerns a citizen in this State? Will he consider that in the context of the freedom of information legislation?

I made a freedom of information request to the Minister for Transport on the Shannon issue. A newspaper got the information after I had made the request but it had to pay for it. I am open to correction but I believe I was asked for €300 or €400 for the information. I do not have a budget for that.

A serious complaint was made about a man to the local authority by a neighbour. All the man wanted to know was who had made the complaint. He had to make a request under the freedom of information legislation and had to pay €15. The local authority then asked for a further fee to examine the matter. That is not right. If somebody makes a complaint in a letter and signs it, the local authority should not require someone to make a freedom of information request but should just give the information. If I want information from the Taoiseach or his Department, I should not have to pay for it.

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