Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The wider general policy questions raised by the Deputy are best directed to the Minister for Finance, who has oversight responsibility. I replied earlier to the Leader of the Opposition on the question of fees where a successful appeal is made to the Information Commissioner. Rather than restating my reply, an appeal to the Information Commissioner is a quasi-judicial process. I am unsure whether Deputy Ó Caoláin was in the House when I gave my reply to Deputy Kenny but it is on the record.

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