Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

With regard to making a name for myself in regard to freedom of information, I am the only Minister who was ever threatened with Circuit Court proceedings by the Data Protection Commissioner. When I was Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I wanted to provide replies to freedom of information requests but the commissioner had huge problems with what I was doing. On her first day in office, the Information Commissioner during an interview on the Pat Kenny show found fault with what I was doing at the time, which was putting all the FOI requests made of the Department on the Internet as replies became available. I was stymied to a certain extent in this regard. The Data Protection Commissioner served a 20 day notice on me saying he would take me to the Circuit Court unless I changed my ways. As a result of negotiations between him and the Attorney General, thankfully, I more or less got my way. I have, therefore, made my name on freedom on information.

However, the Deputy will have to accept dealing with files in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is quite different, particularly in the context of my years as Minister for Foreign Affairs when I dealt with many issues relating to subversive activity against the State. It would be ludicrous that the FOI Act would be extended to such activity.

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