Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No, I am making a general observation. From talking to colleagues and from looking at the situation generally, I know that a lot of time is expended on this issue by many public servants. That time is inordinate to the significance of some of the requests coming in. There is an effort to trawl through everything. If someone has a specific problem they should make a request and we will get the information, but this idea that the public service is in a position to do this all the time is beyond what was contemplated by the legislation. The former Minister of State, Eithne Fitzgerald, worked assiduously on the draft legislation for much of that Administration. She had various ideas about bringing the legislation forward and with the support of the Government we proceeded with it. We have had to adapt and learn from the Act's operation. We want to operate it as it was contemplated and for the purposes for which it was enacted.

We have attempted to make the legislation as comprehensive and accessible as possible. In terms of its legislative intent, the Act is far more accessible than freedom of information legislation in other jurisdictions, which are often cited as great, liberal democracies. The fact is, however, that people are able to use the scope of the legislation in ways which were not contemplated. That can often happen and it is not unique to this legislation.

I wanted to make that general comment but not because I am not a supporter of freedom of information. That is the other problem - if one says anything critical one is assumed to be against it, but I am not.

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