Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

How many of the recommendations in the Information Commissioner's report of March 2007 have been accepted by the Government? Has it accepted any recommendations to improve the working of the freedom of information process? For example, the Taoiseach spoke about appeals and the cost of same. Has he given consideration to refunding the cost of those appeals against any public body which have been upheld by the Information Commissioner? Is the Taoiseach aware that the enforcement records of the Health and Safety Authority were removed from the scope of the Act in 2005? One of the Information Commissioner's recommendations was that this should be restored. The Taoiseach should indicate the number of measures she has commended that have been adopted by the Government, as well as commenting on the two specific issues.

I understand the Taoiseach's Department has oversight responsibility in respect of the working of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, which was established at the end of last year by the former Taoiseach. A recent freedom of information request was made requesting information on international travel by members of the aforementioned committee members. While I do not know whether it was made directly to the Department of the Taoiseach, it certainly is the establishing Department of the committee. I understand that this request applied to all Members of the Dáil. In this Deputy's case, I noted the freedom of information request referred to international travel and was specific to air and sea travel. However, after 11 years as a Dáil Deputy, the only return from me as a member of that committee was in respect of travel to attend the Good Friday Agreement anniversary conference in Belfast earlier this year.

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