Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Several times, the Information Commissioner, Ms Emily O'Reilly, has stated her concerns about the lack of transparency in the FOI business. She stated, "If FOI is about replacing a culture of secrecy with a culture of openness in the Irish public service, I have to say that this objective is being frustrated by the continued exclusion from FOI of several key public institutions." In June, she and the Department of Finance made some interesting comments. She stated, "The Ryan commission inquiry into the abuse of children in institutions might not have been necessary if freedom of information legislation existed". This may or may not be so. She went on to ask, "What might have been the outcome if 30 years ago, FOI legislation had allowed the public to rip away the secretive bureaucratic veils that hid the industrial schools and other institutions from clear view and exposed the practices therein?"

At the same conference, a Department of Finance official stated that FOI requests were costly to pursue, which may be true in some cases, and that "Government Departments would have to find ways of improving the FOI operation". This might entail explaining to the public that questions seeking information might be written more accurately.

Does the Taoiseach have any comment to make on Ms O'Reilly's observations on the Freedom of Information Act as the Information Commissioner? While he may not have the answer in his brief, a number of State agencies and quangos are still outside the Act's remit. Is work being done in the Department or by the Taoiseach to allow a number of these institutions currently outside the ambit of the Freedom of Information Act to be included under the scheme?

See this speech in context