Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Does the Taoiseach believe that the original Freedom of Information Act, introduced on behalf of the rainbow coalition by former Minister of State and Deputy, Eithne Fitzgerald, contributed to the climate of openness in this country that has been extremely important to our economic and social development? Does he agree that since the gutting of the Act by his Government in 2003 — pandering to senior civil servants who do not want the files to be opened — there has been, at massive cost to the public, a spiralling increase in the number of tribunals and inquiries? To date, €1.7 billion has been paid out in respect of various inquiries. In many cases, if people had received the necessary information, explanation, apology and, perhaps, restitution, the Government would not have been obliged to spend money at the level it has been spending it.

If the Government had a positive approach to freedom of information, we could reintroduce the climate of openness to which I refer. I accept that pesky journalists might ask detailed questions about particular elements of Government. Is that a major price to pay for restoring a climate of confidence and openness and a sense that the country is going places? When the Government gave in to senior civil servants, it allowed them to regain control of the files and restore the type of secrecy many of them have been trained to love.

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