Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I would not be aware of the detail in that respect or if it is a budgetary or Estimates matter.

I would make the point, however, that it is an expensive and time consuming aspect of Government work. As I say, I have no problem whatsoever with the legitimate use of the Freedom of Information Act for individual citizens or, indeed, for others. However, the idea of the Department trawling every question that comes in from people who, perhaps, regard the Departments of State as a source of generating information was not within the contemplation of the Freedom of Information Act and, to be honest, it is an abuse of the process. If the fee structure has done anything to help stop that sort of activity, all the better.

The freedom of information legislation is one of the most liberal in the world in terms of access for citizens of relevant information, and quite rightly so. I have no problem whatsoever with freedom of information, but it is important that everyone acts responsibly and that it is not used for reasons which were beyond the contemplation of the legislation, although perhaps technically within its remit. Anyway, I suppose such is life. If it must be handled that way, so be it but I just make that observation.

See this speech in context