Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

If we get a freedom of information request in my Department on which we cannot give all the information, we part grant the information. Rather than ignore it, we at least try to deal with the policy issues with which we can deal. In approximately one quarter of all requests, we would at least give the policy information we can give. In terms of policy and without straying into other areas, Members of the House may ask parliamentary questions and there is the freedom of information process. In regard to CIE and major policy questions, however, such a body is answerable to committees of the House, to which it must answer for its policy decisions. That is a method of trying to get them to answer these questions.

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