Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I agree with the Minister that it is inevitable in a country of this size there will be conflicts of interest from time to time. It is a question, however, of accountability. Will the minutes be subject to freedom of information requests? From my experience on local authorities, Oireachtas committees and this Chamber, from time to time people declare a conflict of interest in a matter. Regrettably in the past, particularly in planning issues, people did not declare and we all know the terrible price paid consequently. It is not an argument that there should never be a conflict of interest. There will be conflicts of interest and that is why disclosure of such events is so important. It must be recorded in a way that can be accessed.

Freedom of information originally was envisaged to be just that, "free". Requests have been made more difficult with Fianna Fáil in Government tightening up on the rights of people to access information. I am disappointed and perplexed as to why a Minister, who believes in accountability, has such a difficulty with my amendment. As conflicts do arise, it is important that some record of them are made and are easily accessible. The Minister is saying that if one can afford to pay for a freedom of information appreciation, one will get the information; if one cannot, one will not get the information.

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